WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (Reuters) -Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made a surprise trip to Florida to meet with Donald Trump late on Saturday, as the key European leader sought to buttress ties with the president-elect before his inauguration on Jan.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid an unofficial visit to Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence on Saturday, the latest foreign leader hosted by the US president-elect as he prepares to take office.

President-elect Donald Trump made an appearance with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who was visiting his Mar-a-Lago club.

US President-elect Donald Trump hailed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as a “fantastic woman” as she became the latest world leader to visit his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida.

US President-elect Donald Trump hosted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for talks at his Florida base, the latest sign of the two leaders’ deepening bond and the Italian’s leveraging of her hard-right credentials to position Rome for the incoming administration.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made a whirlwind visit to Donald Trump at his Florida retreat on Saturday, as European leaders attempt to bolster ties with the incoming United States president.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made an unexpected visit to Florida to meet with Donald Trump ahead of his inauguration. The two leaders are seen as potential allies, and Meloni also plans to discuss matters such as Ukraine and a detained Italian journalist with the president-elect.

Circle Squared Alternative Investments' Jeff Sica discusses the 'historic' meeting between Trump and PM Giorgia Meloni at Mar-a-Lago and Apple's stock performance.

The Italian prime minister’s apparent closeness with the US president-elect could help avert a looming trade war.

Lago, Trump described Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as a “fantastic woman… she’s really taken Europe by storm.”