Sun Feb 23 05:18:40 UTC 2025: ## Meloni Defends Global Conservative Alliance at CPAC, Sparks Outrage in Italy

**Washington, D.C./Rome** – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni delivered a fiery address at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, praising President Donald Trump and attacking what she termed a hypocritical “liberal network.” Her speech, delivered via video link, has ignited a firestorm of criticism back home.

Meloni accused left-wing politicians of reacting with “hysteria” to the global rise of conservative leaders, claiming a double standard exists where past left-leaning leaders were lauded as statesmen, while current conservative figures like herself, Trump, and others are labeled threats to democracy. She countered that despite the criticism, conservative leaders continue to win elections, proving the public’s rejection of what she described as leftist lies.

The Italian Prime Minister’s appearance at CPAC, where former Trump strategist Steve Bannon made a gesture that drew comparisons to a Nazi salute, further fueled the controversy. Opposition parties in Italy, including the center-left Democratic Party led by Elly Schlein, called on Meloni to distance herself from the event and condemn Bannon’s actions. Schlein criticized Meloni’s silence on Trump’s alleged insults towards Ukraine and the European Union, accusing her of prioritizing pleasing the US administration over defending Italian and European interests. French National Rally leader Jordan Bardella withdrew from CPAC over Bannon’s actions.

Meloni, however, defended the transatlantic partnership, asserting that close ties between the US and Europe would endure under a Trump presidency. Her remarks come amid growing European concerns about Trump’s outreach to Russia and potential shifts in US policy toward NATO. Meloni’s participation in CPAC, as the only EU head of government to attend Trump’s inauguration, has highlighted the growing divide between European and American political landscapes.

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