Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has claimed that the Left is panicking over US President Donald Trump’s victory, accusing liberals of hypocrisy and global conservatives of being unfairly called a “threat to democracy.”
Speaking via videolink at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington DC on Saturday, Meloni praised Trump and US vice president JD Vance while criticising “elites” and left-wing politicians.
The Italian PM argued that the Left’s frustration had turned into “hysteria” following Trump’s return to power, not only because conservatives were winning elections but because they were now working together internationally. “When Bill Clinton and Tony Blair created the global leftist liberal network in the 90s, they were called statesmen,” she said.
“Today, when Trump, Maloni, Millay or maybe Modi talk, they are called a threat to democracy. This is the last double standard, but we are used to it, and the good news is people no longer believe in their lies, despite all the mud they throw at us. Citizens keep voting for us,” she added.
Meloni backed Trump as a strong leader, dismissing any suggestion that his presidency would create rifts within the conservative movement. “Our adversaries hope that President Trump will move away from us, but knowing him as a strong and effective leader I bet that those who hope for divisions will be proven wrong,” she said.
Meloni also defended JD Vance, who faced criticism for his speech at the Munich Security Conference, where he said Europe’s greatest threat came “from within.” Meloni dismissed the backlash, claiming liberal elites were uncomfortable with conservatives speaking openly about identity and democracy. “Vice President Vance was discussing something deeper: identity, democracy, freedom of speech,” she said.
Meloni’s participation in CPAC came amid calls from Italian opposition leaders to cancel her appearance. The controversy followed former Trump advisor Steve Bannon’s speech at the event, during which he appeared to make a Nazi-style salute. Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein condemned CPAC as a “neo-fascist gathering” and urged Meloni to disassociate from it. However, Meloni went ahead with her speech, aligning herself with the conservative movement and dismissing left-wing criticism.
She reiterated her belief in a conservative vision of leadership and said that, “We serve the people, we do not rule over them.”
