President Donald Trump will meet with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni on Thursday at the White House amid a tariff standoff with the European Union.
The talks come a day after Trump met with Japanese officials and spoke with Mexico's Claudia Sheinbaum. The president said in a new post on Thursday that "every nation" wants to meet on tariffs, including China -- though it doesn't appear China will come to the negotiation table anytime soon.
Meanwhile, Trump is criticizing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, saying his "termination cannot come fast enough" after Powell said he expects Trump's tariff policy to cause higher inflation and slower economic growth.
Trump to meet with Italy's Meloni at the White House
President Donald Trump is hosting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White House on Thursday.
The two will hold a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office at 1:05 p.m.
The talks are likely to focus on tariffs, and Meloni is the first European leader to meet with Trump since he imposed tariffs on the European Union. Meloni, Italy's right-wing premier, has come to be called a Trump "whisperer" and attended his inauguration in January.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni holds a year-end press conference in Rome, Jan. 9, 2025. | President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at the White House on Marine One, April 6, 2025, in Washington.
Alessandra Tarantino|Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
Apr 16, 2025, 6:00 PM EDT
Trump claims 'Big Progress' after meeting with Japanese delegation, but no other details
The president posted a small update on Truth Social after negotiations with Japanese officials took place at the White House over tariffs, but provided no other details.
"A Great Honor to have just met with the Japanese Delegation on Trade. Big Progress!" Trump wrote.
-ABC News' Hannah Demissie
Apr 16, 2025, 2:46 PM EDT
California sues Trump to block tariffs
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Wednesday that California is suing the Trump administration to block the president's tariffs.
In the state's 14th lawsuit against the administration in less than 14 weeks, Newsom and Bonta argued tariffs are the responsibility of Congress and alleged Trump invented bogus national emergencies to claim jurisdiction.
In response, White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement to ABC News that "Instead of focusing on California's rampant crime, homelessness, and unaffordability, Gavin Newsom is spending his time trying to block President Trump’s historic efforts to finally address the national emergency of our country's persistent goods trade deficits."
"The entire Trump administration remains committed to addressing this national emergency that's decimating America's industries and leaving our workers behind with every tool at our disposal, from tariffs to negotiations," he continued.
Newsom also announced he's looking into his own trade deals with other countries, trying to get California-made products exempt from retaliatory tariffs from other countries.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks at the Economic Club of Chicago, April 16, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois.
Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images
-ABC News' Alex Stone and Hannah Demissie
Apr 16, 2025, 2:20 PM EDT
Stocks fall during Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's remarks
Stocks fell Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the Fed could face challenges trying to lower inflation and support economic growth.
He also said that "tariffs are highly likely to generate at least a temporary rise in inflation" and "the inflationary effects could also be more persistent."
"Avoiding that outcome will depend on the size of the effects, on how long it takes for them to pass through fully to prices and, ultimately, on keeping longer-term inflation expectations well anchored," he said.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks at the Economic Club of Chicago, April 16, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois.
