Trump whisperer? Italy's Meloni navigates a high-stakes relationship

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

85% : I'm here with a fantastic woman," Trump said during Meloni's visit to Mar-a-Lago this month.
67% : "This is useful for Italy and will also be useful for the EU.
61% : "Trump has chosen her for credibility, reliability and for the stability of our government as the preferred interlocutor in the EU," Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Edmondo Cirielli, a member of Meloni's Brothers of Italy party, told Reuters.
58% : Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni are fast forging a new transatlantic "special relationship".Italian Prime Minister Meloni was the sole European leader at Trump's presidential inauguration on Monday, an honour that came barely two weeks after she flew to Florida to meet him at his Mar-a-Lago retreat, and propelled her into pole position to become Washington's new go-to ally in Europe.
57% : The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on relations between Trump and Meloni.MELONI: ELON MUSK IS PRECIOUS GENIUSMeloni is also close to billionaire Elon Musk, who has emerged as a key mover and shaker in the president's inner circle, and the pair have engaged in a flurry of praise.
52% : The election of Trump, a natural ideological partner, has given her the opportunity to play a similar role on a much bigger stage - one that has seen the emergence of powerful personal alliances between leaders such as Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan in the 1980s who cemented what is widely termed the "special relationship" between Britain and America.
50% : "Meloni knows this, so for better or worse, she will have to represent Europe's interests to Trump," he added.
49% : Italian newspapers have said Meloni will look to use her alliance with Trump to deflect tax hikes away from local firms, such as its food producers.
48% : While NATO has said the military budget of member states should total 2% of national output, Trump has called for this to jump to 5%.
46% : Another official said Meloni's friendship with Trump would be valuable if she can persuade him to stick by Ukraine in its war with Russia.
42% : "Trump has the ability to balance diplomacy and deterrence," she said after her Florida trip.
32% : A senior EU official in Brussels, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was not yet clear that Trump wanted to build any bridges to Europe, with or without Meloni.
27% : Meloni flies to U.S. twice in a month to see Trump*Close ties could make her Europe's bridge to America*Italy's trade surplus, low defence spending a problem*Meloni also risks isolating herself in EU - analystsBy Crispian BalmerROME, Jan 22 (Reuters) -
27% : Meloni's office refused to comment on such speculation, but analysts say Italy would still suffer, even if Trump directed his ire elsewhere.

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