In-town Pool 2a (Additional quotes from Cabinet Room spray)

At one point PM Meloni said, “I believe in the west unity. I think simply we have to talk.”

“She believes in the president,” President Trump interrupted.

“Also,” she agreed. “&and find ourselves in the best middle way to grow together.”

Trump on Europe: “Oh, there will be a trade deal, 100 percent. Why you think there won’t be? Of course there will be a trade deal, very much. They want to make one very much. And we are going to make a trade deal. I fully expect it. And it will be a fair deal.”

Asked about what countries were on his priority list, Trump said, “Everybody is on my priority list.”

On timing, he said a trade deal with Japan and Italy would come “at a certain point. We’re in no rush.”

He repeated the claim that 2020 was a “rigged election.”

Asked if there is concern about Chinese efforts to build alliances given the new U.S. tariffs, he said “No. No one can compete with us. Nobody.” Asked about picking up the phone to call President Xi, he said “Oh we’re going to make a deal. I think we are going to make a very good deal with China.”

On Meloni, Trump said, “I do like her very much. I think she is a great prime minister. I think she is doing a fantastic job in Italy. And we are very proud of her. I knew her right from the beginning. I knew her as a very early prime minister. And I knew she had great talent. She is one of the real leaders of the world, and I am very proud to be with her.”

“I am sure that together we are stronger,” Meloni said. “And I have to find the best way to make us both stronger on both sides of the Atlantic.”

“We are going to have very little problem making a deal with Europe or anybody else, because we have something that everybody wants. You know what that means, right?” Trump concluded.

Michael Scherer

The Atlantic

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