Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump to address rising tensions over newly announced U.S. tariffs on European imports, marking her as the first European leader to engage diplomatically since the tariffs were declared. European leaders hope Meloni can mediate between the Trump administration and the EU, leveraging her rapport with Trump and her prominence as a leader of the right-wing populist Brothers of Italy party. The stakes are high, as the EU seeks to avoid a trade war that could destabilize its economy, making Meloni's diplomatic efforts crucial in potentially reshaping U.S.-EU relations.