Meloni steps in as Italian reporter asks Trump if he called Europeans ‘parasites’

Meloni defends Trump over ‘parasites’ remark.

During a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White House, an awkward moment unfolded when an Italian journalist asked US President Donald Trump whether he had ever referred to Europeans as "parasites." The question, posed in Italian after the journalist requested a language change, caught attention.

Meloni was quick to intervene, replying, "No, he never said that." She then turned to Trump to clarify, asking, “Have you ever said Europeans are parasites? Have you said that?” Trump responded, “I have never said that. I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

Giorgia Meloni is having the time of her life pic.twitter.com/0n1W4lmiTa aka (@akafaceUS) April 17, 2025

The exchange followed a March 2025 report by The Atlantic, which cited leaked Signal messages from Trump administration officials allegedly describing Europeans as parasites during internal conversations about airstrikes in Yemen.

Despite the awkward moment, the press conference continued with a focus on trade and transatlantic diplomacy. Trump, who has recently imposed a 20 percent tariff on EU exports, expressed optimism about a future agreement with the bloc, stating a deal with the European Union was “100 percent” possible. Meloni agreed, saying she believed common ground could be found. She extended an invitation for Trump to visit Rome and meet with other EU leaders.

While Trump reiterated his familiar stance that the EU has tried to “take advantage” of the US, he stressed there was “no rush” to reach a deal. “Everybody wants to make a deal — and if they don’t, we’ll go ahead and make the deal for them,” he said.

Back in Europe, some leaders voiced concern over Meloni’s one-on-one diplomacy. France’s industry minister warned such moves might “break the current dynamic,” according to the Associated Press.

Meloni returns to Rome on Friday, where she is expected to host US Vice President JD Vance. Trump’s tariff stance remains a pressing concern, especially for Italy, which exports around 10 percent of its goods to the US.