[EXTERNAL] VP pool report #3 4/18: Ceremony ahead of Meloni meeting�

�

Vice President Vance has appeared at Palazzo Chigi, Prime Minister Meloni’s office complex, for a bilateral meeting.

�

The VP was greeted with a ceremony in the courtyard of the building, complete with dozens of Italian Navy marching band and honor guard members, which an Italian official tells your pooler is referred to as “military honors.”

�

Meloni, today in a pink suit, stood waiting for Vance on the red carpet for several minutes before he arrived. The VP arrived at 1:04 p.m.

�

“I’ve been missing you,” Meloni told Vance with a laugh as he walked up to greet her. (They met less than 24 hours ago in Washington.) Your pooler could not hear VP’s reply, but he was friendly.

�

The program commenced with the playing of the Star Spangled Banner, and the vice president listened with his hand over his heart. He dropped it as the Italian anthem began to play. American, Italian and European Union flags were draped on both sides of the band.

�

The pair then walked the duration of the red carpet to head inside.

�

Pool arrived here ahead of the VP, and eventually was led to our perch in the building’s courtyard after being shuffled back and forth between rooms with much gesturing, attempts by Americans to speak Italian, and attempts by Italians to speak English to direct the traveling pool to the location where we were wanted.

�

Pool so far has not been able to ask the VP any questions. The weather has much improved since this morning; the sun is now peeking out, and the rain stopped ahead of this outdoor ceremony.

�

—

Natalie Allison

White House Reporter

The Washington Post

White House Reporter

The Washington Post

---

Unsubscribe [EMAIL ADDRESS] from this list: