From Nigel Farage to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, EU politicians are competing for the privilege of being Europe’s Trump whisperer.

Giorgia Meloni’s presence at Donald Trump’s inauguration aimed to reinforce her status as a privileged interlocutor with the new US administration. But this position carries risks for Italy and the EU.

He hails a fantastic woman sweeping all before her in Europe. She praises a strong and shrewd defender of the West. Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni are fast forging a new transatlantic "special relationship".

Their attendance marks the first time world leaders have been present at a U.S. president’s swearing-in ceremony, a historian said.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will attend U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration in Washington on Monday, her office confirmed on Saturday. Meloni will be one of the highest-profile European politicians to attend the event.

President-elect boasts international group of Right-wing proxies with equally provocative styles and a hostility toward migrants and wokery

In contrast, Ms Meloni is the leader of a nationalist party with protectionist instincts. ■ For more expert analysis of the biggest stories in economics, finance and markets, sign up to Money Talks, our weekly subscriber-only newsletter.

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Mr. Bruni is a contributing Opinion writer. Ms. McLean is a contributing editor at Business Insider and an author of “The Smartest Guys in the Room,” a book about the collapse of Enron. Mr. Silver is the author of “On the Edge: The Art of Risking Everything.”

WASHINGTON DC, JAN 24 - United States President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated his admiration for Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni. When asked by a reporter about Meloni, Trump replied "I like her a lot".

WASHINGTON DC, JAN 24 - United States President Donald Trump said "I like (Italian Premier Giorgia) Meloni a lot" on Friday when asked by a Mediaset reporter about whether his administration might go easy on Italy when it comes to imposing tariffs on EU goods.

C onflicting SIGNALS are reaching the new American administration from Rome. And some carry a whiff of incense. While Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, was preparing to fly to Washington to schmooze President Donald Trump and his chums, a leader on the other side of the Tiber was communicating stark disapproval of their plans.