Trump is hosting Italian leader Giorgia Meloni, a close ally trying to position herself as mediator between the US and Europe. Meanwhile, a judge has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in contempt over deportation flights. Listen to the Trump 100 podcast as you scroll.
Thursday 17 April 2025 16:13, UK
US correspondents David Blevins and James Matthews are back to answer your questions in their regular Trump 100 Q&A at 4pm tomorrow.
Submit your question above to join in.
By Tom Boadle, business news editor
Ahead of the European Central Bank’s (ECB) decision to cut its interest rates by 25 basis points, Donald Trump lashed out on social media against the independent chair of the US central bank, the Federal Reserve.
The US president said Jerome Powell’s „termination cannot come fast enough“ and demanded that he follow the ECB in lowering interest rates after acting „TOO LATE AND WRONG“.
It’s added to speculation that the White House will try and remove Powell from his post before he steps down next year.
It comes after Powell warned in a speech last night that US economic growth will be hit and prices will rise because of the president’s imposition of tariffs on goods being imported into the country.
The Federal Reserve has held its main rate at 4.25% to 4.5% since 18 December.
We have been seeing a media crackdown by Donald Trump’s team since he came to office.
In February, the White House blocked access to the news agency Associated Press (AP) in a dispute over the term Gulf of America.
The news agency refused to change its style from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, after Trump renamed it.
However, the move was overturned last week after the White House lost a court battle brought by AP over its exclusion.
Now, the Trump team’s media crackdown appears to be expanding.
Newswire services including Reuters and Bloomberg News will no longer hold a permanent slot in the pool of reporters who cover Donald Trump, the White House has said.
The pool typically consists of around 10 outlets that follow the president wherever he goes but under the new policy wire services will lose their customary spot.
So why is this significant?
Local news organisations that have no presence in Washington, rely on the wires for up-to-date reporting.
Financial markets are also dependent on the wire services‘ real time reports of statements the president makes.
Newswires also provide the public access to independent, impartial and accurate news about their government.
By Adam Parsons, Europe correspondent
Giorgia Meloni revels in her reputation for being an eye-rolling, combative and determined leader. Now she’s got a new role – Italy’s prime minister is now a political peacekeeper.
Relations between Europe and America are lousy. President Trump didn’t just impose tariffs on the European Union, but he referred to it as „pathetic“ and claimed, without facts, that it had only been created to thwart America.
On defence, Europeans believe his commitment to NATO is now lukewarm, and many seethe at the way he has gone behind their backs to open talks with Russia about the future of Ukraine. Across the continent, there is an uneasy feeling that Washington is now closer to Moscow than Brussels.
And into all this walks Meloni – the only world leader to attend Trump’s inauguration earlier this year and a committed believer in strong ties across the Atlantic.
On the surface the two leaders are kindred spirits – right-wing populists who thrive on anti-migration sentiment and hark back to the allegedly forgotten greatness of their countries.
Meloni, though, is more flexible – where Trump pushes on regardless, Meloni reads a room and reacts.
She travels with the blessing of Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, who is ultimately in charge of framing any future trade deal on behalf of Brussels.
Meloni may try to ease the tensions caused by tariffs, but she won’t be able to agree a new deal. And while Washington would love to strike individual deals with EU countries, to weaken EU unity, Meloni is unlikely to play that game.
But expect Trump to push her hard. Italy has a huge trade surplus with the United States thanks to America’s desire for Italian food and its love of the nation’s luxury goods, and Italy’s reluctance to buy anything like the same amount of American goods.
Meloni will find herself under pressure to spend money on buying more American gas in return for all that Prada, Gucci and Parma ham going the other way.
But – and there is always a but – other European nations will be watching her tactics, nervous that Meloni might end up doing deals that work for her, but not for the union. Trump’s tariffs have increased tensions.
„We know we are in a difficult moment,“ Meloni said this week.
„Most certainly, I am well aware of what I represent and what I am defending.“
The two leaders will talk about defence and about Trump’s long-standing demand that European nations should spend more. On that one, at least, Meloni may find herself on the back foot.
Italy spends about 1.5% of GDP on its military – way, way below the level that America believes is appropriate.
On Ukraine, Meloni – unlike some others in her wobbly coalition – has long supported Kyiv against Moscow, but her previous assertions that Ukraine could win have now been eased.
She is more equivocal than Emmanual Macron, for instance, about whether Europe can achieve anything meaningful without American military support, and few Italians think their troops should be involved in any future peacekeeping mission.
A senior Trump official says the administration sees Italian prime minister as a valuable interlocuter with the EU.
Right-wing populist Giorgia Meloni, who is meeting with Donald Trump today, has been trying to position herself as power broker between her ally and the bloc.
The official said Meloni and Trump will also work together to end the war in Ukraine.
Meloni is a staunch defender of Kyiv – much more so than the president.
Italy’s defence spending – 1.5% of GDP – will come up in discussions, and anything she can do to hit 2% is „much needed“, the official said.
They said Trump has a „very special relationship“ with the Italian leader.
Donald Trump says China wants to meet, apparently to discuss trade.
„Had a very productive call with the President of Mexico yesterday,“ he posted on his social media site, Truth Social.
„Likewise, I met with the highest level Japanese Trade Representatives.
„It was a very productive meeting. Every Nation, including China, wants to meet! Today, Italy!“
Trump has imposed sweeping 10% tariffs on dozens of nations, as well as a 25% tariff on steel, aluminium and car imports.
But China has borne the brunt of the president’s trade war, facing 145% in tariffs and responding with 125% levies of its own.
A federal judge has said he has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in contempt over deportation flights it sent to El Salvador.
US district judge James Boasberg found the government’s actions „demonstrate a wilful disregard“ for a court order to stop the removal process on 15 March.
This was „sufficient for the court to conclude that probable cause exists to find the government in criminal contempt“.
„The court does not reach such conclusion lightly or hastily; indeed, it has given defendants ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions. None of their responses has been satisfactory.“
The administration can avoid this by taking custody of the people it deported giving them hearings so they can challenge the allegations against them.
Otherwise the court will determine who is responsible and prosecute them.
The Justice Department said it would appeal.
„The President is 100% committed to ensuring that terrorists and criminal illegal migrants are no longer a threat to Americans and their communities across the country,“ said White House communications director Steven Cheung.
The judge’s comments come as the Trump administration defends its deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was removed from the US despite the order.
The Supreme Court has called on the administration to facilitate his return, but Trump officials have alleged Garcia has ties to the MS-13 gang – something his lawyers have said there is no evidence of.
Along with Garcia, the Trump administration has deported hundreds of people, mostly Venezuelans, who it claims are gang members without presenting evidence and without a trial.
Donald Trump is hosting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni today, a close ally trying to position herself as a power broker between Washington and Europe over tariff tensions.
Meloni, a 48-year-old conservative who Trump has warmed to, was the only European Union leader invited to Trump’s inauguration in January.
The 27-nation bloc faces 25% import tariffs on steel and aluminum and cars, and broader tariffs on almost all other goods in Trump’s tariff war.
Trump and Meloni will meet the day before she hosts Vice President JD Vance in Rome, with the back-to-back talks potentially critical in determining whether she can play a mediator role.
Meloni is walking a tightrope between her ideological affinity to the president and her ties with European allies, who have criticised Trump’s tariff hikes and his decision to exclude the EU from talks with Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
She also faces domestic pressure at to protect Italy’s export-driven economy, which last year ran a $45.4bn trade surplus with the US.
French government ministers have warned the nationalist Italian leader could undermine EU unity by going alone to Washington, but the European Commission, which has responsibility for negotiating trade accords, welcomed Meloni’s trip.
We’re back with our live coverage of the latest news from the US, as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni becomes the first European leader to hold a face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump since he imposed tariffs on European exports.
Before we resume our regular updates and analysis, let’s catch you up on some of the key developments over the last 24 hours:
Follow us for all the latest updates.
This evening, Donald Trump directed his health department to work with Congress on revamping a law that allows Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices.
Drug companies have been pushing to delay the timeline under which medications become eligible for price negotiations by four years for small molecule drugs, which are primarily pills and account for most medicines.
That would align with the 13-year wait until more complex biotech drugs become eligible for Medicare price negotiations.
The wide-ranging executive order signed by Trump tonight aims to reduce healthcare costs.
It comes one day after the Trump administration instituted a national security report into the pharmaceutical industry.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Trump latest: Trump to host Italy's Meloni – as he says China 'wants to meet' – Sky News
