Tom Joyner
Live reporter

Image source, Reuters

From the moment she arrived at the White House, Giorgia Meloni was warmly welcomed. Trump called her a "great prime minister" and said she had "taken Europe by storm".

Meloni's visit to Washington today had been eagerly awaited. After months of a trade standoff between the US and the European Union, Meloni was seen as a "Trump whisperer" who Brussels hoped could help ease tensions.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump was full of praise for his Italian counterpart - and Meloni seemed to say all the right things, as our Europe reporter Laura Gozzi notes.

There was no announcement of a trade deal, but both leaders sounded optimistic. Trump also accepted Meloni's invitation to Rome, though we don't know when that will happen.

Meloni is now heading back to Italy for talks with US Vice-President JD Vance tomorrow. They could continue the discussions on tariffs, defence spending, and perhaps ways to "make the West great again".

We're wrapping up our live coverage for now - Meanwhile, you can read about today's talk in our full coverage here.

Image source, Reuters

As we've reported, Trump and Meloni have discussed Italy's defence spending.

This ties into a key complaint from Trump – that America's Nato allies in Europe aren't doing enough, external compared to the US.

Nato, as a military alliance, expects its members to invest in their own armed forces, since it has no troops of its own.

A decade ago, members agreed to spend 2% of their GDP on defence by 2024.

Since then, some countries have increased their military spending, but Trump says it's still not enough.

Italy has often spent less than its commitment. Last year, its spending was among the lowest in the alliance.

This year, Italy says it will increase its defence budget.

Image source, Getty Images

After today’s meeting with the US president, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is scheduled to fly back to Rome for a meeting with US Vice-President JD Vance on Friday.

The second family will be in Italy from the 18-21, before flying to India.

Vance, a Catholic, is also expected to visit the secretary of state for the Vatican City, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, during his trip to Italy, which coincides with Easter Sunday.

The BBC’s US partner, CBS News, reports that Vance is not expected to take part in negotiations about Iran’s nuclear programme - being led by US envoy Steve Witkoff - which will also take place in Rome this weekend.

Image source, Getty Images

Nicola Procaccini, Member of the European Parliament with Meloni's Brothers of Italy Party, says he believes it was a "good meeting" between the Italian prime minister and Trump at the White House, although he underlines it is "only the first step".

"The main goal is strength and the alliance between the US and the EU," he tells The Context on the BBC News channel.

He adds that the final goal would be a "zero tariff agreement" but adds that it is "not easy".

While taking questions earlier, Trump and US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent briefly touched on the Ukraine minerals deal. Bessent told reporters that while they are still working on the details, the deal will likely be signed next week.

Here is what we know about it so far:

According to an initial version, the deal would involve starting an "investment fund" for the country's reconstruction.

Ukraine would contribute 50% of future proceeds from state-owned mineral resources, oil and gas to the fund, which will then be invested "to promote the safety, security and prosperity of Ukraine".

The US will own much of the fund and invest in rebuilding the country.

It was supposed to be signed when President Zelensky visited the White House in February.

After a conflict-filled meeting with between the two leaders that ended in Zelensky being told to leave, the signing was tabled.

After the US cut off aid to Ukraine, Zelensky posted to social media saying he was ready to sign it at any time.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

We've just wrapped up a long question-and-answer session in the Oval Office - one that, for the most part, did not particularly focus on the US-Italy relationship or even the European Union.

The pool of reporters that was inside the room is now outside, filing stories into their laptops or outside doing live hits on TV.

While Trump was bullish about tariffs - insisted that his policy is bringing countries to the negotiating table - we heard very little about any US-EU trade deal, or any details about what that might look like. Trump expressed vague optimism about that.

Instead, both leaders seemed to be steering the topics to ones they agree on - such as immigration.

Similarly, we also heard that Meloni and Trump discussed defence spending, but not much more than that.

The devil, however, is in the details. Both leaders have now moved onto an expanded bilateral meeting that will include other officials. This closed-door meeting is likely where the granular details of their relationship will be discussed.

While Meloni is scheduled to leave afterwards, we may hear from Trump again later this afternoon when he signs executive orders.

At the moment, that event - at 1600 EST (20:00GMT) - is closed to the press. But often, they open up at short notice.

Image source, Getty Images

As we've seen, the news conference has jumped around a bit.

Now we're back to the mineral deal with Ukraine.

When asked where the deal will be signed, Trump hands over to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

They're still working on the details, Bessent says.

"It's substantially what we agreed previously," he says.

And with that, the question-and-answer session comes to an end.

Trump has spoken about China already, and he’s come back to that topic again.

Talking about his tariffs on the country since his first term in office in 2017, he says: "No other president took in 10 cents, I took in more than $700bn (£528bn) from China."

He says that the US is doing well and says he is building a country like no other.

Trump says he hopes Europe will be "great again" and blames many of its problems on immigration.

He praises Meloni for taking a tough stance on immigration, saying he wishes more people were like her.

Meloni says change is happening, thanks to the example set by Italy.

"I'm optimistic," she said.

Meloni is asked about defence spending and Trump's earlier comments suggesting he holds Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responsible for Russia's war in Ukraine.

She says she and Trump discussed the importance of defence spending during their meeting.

Trump says he does not hold Zelensky responsible.

He adds that the war would not have started if he had been president in 2022.

"I'm not happy with him," Trump says. "I'm not blaming him, but what I am saying is that I wouldn't say he's done the greatest job."

Back to tariffs now, Trump says the US has taken in "tremendous amounts of money" from them.

He claims countries can't take advantage of the US anymore because, "we have a real president".

He finishes by saying if countries don't come to the table to make a deal, "we'll make the deal for them".

Image source, Reuters

A reporter asks Trump if Italy should join a European peace mission in Ukraine.

Trump says Italy will need to make that decision, but adds: "Peace missions are always ok with me."

Laura Gozzi
Europe reporter

Image source, Reuters

By the looks of it, the atmosphere in the Oval Office is quite relaxed and good-natured.

In her statement at the start of the Q&A, Meloni is clearly pushing all the right buttons - telling Trump that her goal is "to make the west great again", criticising "woke ideology" and championing the "war against illegal migration".

She also seizes the chance to tout the work of her government.

She has been prime minister since late 2022.

"I'm proud of sitting here as prime minister of an Italy that today has a very good situation - a stable country, a reliable country," Meloni says.

She touts her successes adding jobs and bringing inflation down, before gesturing towards Trump and adding with a broad smile: "Forgive me if I promote my country, but you're a businessman and you understand me". Trump grins back.

When asked about a potential minerals deal with Ukraine, Trump confirms there is an agreement and says it will be signed next Thursday (24 April).

• You can catch up on the mineral deal here

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Image source, Reuters

Watching the question-and-answer session at the White House, it’s clear other concerns have overshadowed the US-Italy relationship at this event.

Most of the questions so far have focused on different issues, from Ukraine to immigration, the Middle East, and tariffs. Not a single question has gone to Meloni.

The people sitting on the nearby sofa, however, starkly highlight some of the administration’s key foreign policy priorities.

Along with Vice PresidentJD Vance, who will soon head to Rome, there’s Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who has become the administration’s main person on tariffs.

Next to him is Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth. Before the meeting, US officials made it clear they would ask Italy to spend more on defence.

Italy, of course, also hosts US bases.

Image source, White House

Speaking about the partnership between the US and Italy, Meloni touches on the war in Ukraine.

"Together we have been defending the freedom of Ukraine, together we can bring lasting peace," she says.

She then hands over to Trump, who says he feels his administration is "doing well" and that Meloni has been helpful.

A reporter asks Trump how long Putin has to respond to the ceasefire proposal before the US imposes sanctions.

Trump says he will be hearing from Russia this week and wants the killing to stop.

Meloni goes on to say the goal for Europe and the US is to "make the West great again".

She says Trump has accepted an official visit to Rome, which she mentioned earlier.

Meloni also says Trump's visit isn't just about Italy, but about all of Europe.

"I know when I speak about West mainly, I don't speak about geographical space. I speak about a civilisation, and I want to make that civilisation stronger," she adds.

Meloni starts by saying she and Trump share the "fight against 'woke' and DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) ideology that would like to erase our history".

Trump nods and agrees with the Italian prime minister.

She says they can work on tackling many issues together.

• Learn more about Trump's attack on DEI here

Image source, White House

US President Donald Trump and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are now speaking to the press in the Oval Office and answering questions.

We'll bring you all the latest updates, so stay with us.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Image source, Bernd Debusmann Jr/BBC News

I've just arrived in the White House's Brady Briefing Room, where a crowd of reporters – both from Washington's in-town press "pool" and the visiting delegation – have taken over the platform where Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt usually gives her briefings.

It's busier than usual in here.

Travelling press pools from other countries can vary in size, but the Italian one looks quite large. It'll be a bit of a squeeze once they all get into the relatively tight space of the Oval Office, where Italian and US officials will also be.

We're likely to hear more from both leaders during this Oval Office "spray".

Similar events have sometimes lasted 45 minutes to an hour.