On February 6, 2026, the city of Milan found itself at the center of both athletic spectacle and high-stakes diplomacy as U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, just hours before the opening ceremony of the much-anticipated Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The meeting, attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, underscored the enduring ties between the United States and Italy, even as both nations navigated a maze of political tensions and public controversy.
Vice President Vance, accompanied by his family and Secretary Rubio, kicked off his day at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, where they watched the opening session of the three-day team figure skating competition. The excitement and pageantry of the Olympics provided a fitting backdrop for the diplomatic mission, blending the spirit of international competition with the realities of global politics. According to Reuters, the visit was not just about sport: it was also a chance for the U.S. and Italy to reaffirm their longstanding partnership.
After the skating event, Vance and his delegation made their way to the Prefettura di Milano, a grand municipal building that once served as a palace. There, in a room bustling with anticipation, Vance and Meloni sat down for a bilateral meeting that would last about an hour, followed by a closed-door lunch. The atmosphere was cordial, with Meloni beginning her remarks in Italian before switching to English and joking, "Vance probably didn’t understand what she had been saying." Vance played along, quipping that he’d learned Italian since his last visit—though, as Associated Press noted, he hadn’t.
Meloni set the tone for the talks, saying, "I’m happy to have you here to have the occasion to talk about our wonderful bilateral relation." She highlighted the Olympics as "events that tell about values that keep together Italy and the U.S." and spoke of the shared foundation of western civilization. Vance responded in kind, stating, "We love Italy and the Italian people. As you said, we have many excellent relations, many economic connections and partnerships." He added, "In the Olympic spirit, competition is based on rules. It’s good to have shared values, and we will have a very constructive exchange on many topics."
But the warm words and ceremonial pageantry could not entirely mask the underlying tensions. As Reuters reported, the meeting took place against the backdrop of a minor diplomatic storm over the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) analysts supporting the U.S. delegation at the Games. News of their involvement sparked protests across Milan, with hundreds of demonstrators—including student groups and families—taking to the streets to demand clarity and voice concerns about ICE’s record. The controversy even raised fears that American athletes or officials might be booed by spectators.
Meloni, in a Thursday night interview with Mediaset, sought to calm the waters by calling the uproar "surreal," explaining that the investigative branch involved had long cooperated with Italian authorities. She was adamant: "It has never carried out, could never carry out, and will never carry out police operations—immigration enforcement or checks—on our territory." Her comments aimed to reassure both Italians and Americans that the spirit of the Olympics would not be overshadowed by unrelated security controversies.
Inside the Prefettura di Milano, the leaders’ discussions ranged widely. According to statements from both governments, topics included the strength of U.S.-Italian relations, the Olympics, and mutual efforts to improve the business and investment climate. They also tackled pressing international issues, such as energy security, the creation of safe and reliable supply chains for critical minerals, and the latest developments in Iran and Venezuela. These are not small matters; energy security, in particular, has become a recurring theme for both nations as they seek to insulate themselves from global shocks and geopolitical maneuvering.
The diplomatic rapport between Meloni and Vance is shaped in part by the Italian leader’s close relationship with former President Donald Trump. Meloni visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago in early January 2025, even before he officially began his second term. The two leaders have repeatedly praised each other, with Trump calling Meloni a "fantastic woman." Yet, as Associated Press pointed out, Meloni has not always sided with Trump’s more controversial positions—most notably, she joined other European leaders in opposing Trump’s push to take control of Greenland, a move that rattled many in NATO and beyond.
During the brief window when reporters were allowed into the meeting, the leaders exchanged only pleasantries, with Vance saying, "In the spirit of the Olympics friendship, competition—competition based on rules—and just coming together around shared values, we’re very, very thrilled to be here, and we’ll have a great conversation about a number of topics." Neither he nor Rubio responded to questions about ongoing U.S.-Iran talks, leaving the more sensitive diplomatic threads for private discussion.
After the formalities at the prefecture, Vance and Meloni made a private visit to the Pinacoteca di Brera, one of Milan’s most renowned art museums, where they spent about half an hour. The vice president’s office described the outing as a chance to appreciate Italy’s cultural treasures and further cement goodwill between the two countries.
The day’s events unfolded amid a climate of uncertainty in U.S.-Europe relations. President Trump’s second term has been marked by a shake-up of the post-World War II rules-based order, leading to periodic strains with traditional allies. The Olympics, with their emphasis on fair play and international cooperation, offered a timely reminder of the values both nations claim to cherish, even as new challenges test the resilience of their partnership.
As the Olympic torch was lit and athletes from around the world took to the ice and snow, the diplomatic choreography between Vance and Meloni sent its own message: the ties between the United States and Italy remain robust, even as both countries confront internal and external pressures. Whether these gestures of friendship will be enough to navigate the more turbulent waters ahead remains to be seen, but for one day in Milan, sports and statecraft found common ground.