From Nigel Farage to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, here are the competitors for the position of Europe’s Trump whisperer.

He hails a fantastic woman sweeping all before her in Europe. She praises a strong and shrewd defender of the West. Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni are fast forging a new transatlantic "special relationship".

Their attendance marks the first time world leaders have been present at a U.S. president’s swearing-in ceremony, a historian said.

Giorgia Meloni’s presence at Donald Trump’s inauguration aimed to reinforce her status as a privileged interlocutor with the new US administration. But this position carries risks for Italy and the EU.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will attend U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration in Washington on Monday, her office confirmed on Saturday. Meloni will be one of the highest-profile European politicians to attend the event.

The inauguration of Donald Trump saw political leaders, industrial barons and far-right world leaders attend. Here's who was in the audience.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been placed under investigation over a government decision to release a Libyan police officer wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

WASHINGTON DC, JAN 24 - United States President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated his admiration for Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni. When asked by a reporter about Meloni, Trump replied "I like her a lot".

WASHINGTON DC, JAN 24 - United States President Donald Trump said "I like (Italian Premier Giorgia) Meloni a lot" on Friday when asked by a Mediaset reporter about whether his administration might go easy on Italy when it comes to imposing tariffs on EU goods.

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In contrast, Ms Meloni is the leader of a nationalist party with protectionist instincts. ■ For more expert analysis of the biggest stories in economics, finance and markets, sign up to Money Talks, our weekly subscriber-only newsletter.

The new White House portraits of the first lady and the president tell a story of hard-nosed power and all-encompassing anger.