Photo Provided Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is welcomed to President Donald Trump’s inauguration by U.S. Rep. Mike Rulli, R-Ohio.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Mike Rulli, R-Salem, welcomed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to President Donald Trump’s inauguration Monday.

As the newly appointed co-chair of the bipartisan Italian-American Congressional Delegation, Rulli said he has a strong focus on deepening the bond between the nations.

Meloni, who made history in 2022 as Italy’s first female prime minister, has been a prominent advocate for fostering international cooperation. She was one of a select few heads of state to attend Trump’s inauguration in the U.S. Capitol.

Rulli and Meloni discussed the importance of strengthening relations between the countries and emphasized their shared commitment to advancing diplomatic, cultural and economic collaboration.

“The prime minister’s unwavering dedication to strengthening the bond between our two nations is truly inspiring,” said Rulli. “I am eager to collaborate with my colleagues in Congress and Italian leaders to forge a deeper, more dynamic partnership that benefits both the United States and Italy.”

The Italian-American Congressional Delegation is a bipartisan, bicameral caucus committed to strengthening the relationship between the United States and Italy. It consists of nearly 200 members of Congress, many of whom, like Rulli, have Italian ancestry.

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., serves as co-chair of the delegation, with U.S. Reps. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., and Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., serving as co-vice chairs.