Overview

• Speaking by video to the National Italian American Foundation's 50th‑anniversary gala, Giorgia Meloni said Italy and the United States stand as pillars of the free world.
• She warned of a so‑called woke culture that she said seeks to divide allies, rewrite shared history, and erase Italian‑American traditions.
• Meloni declared that Columbus Day is "here to stay" and thanked President Donald Trump for a proclamation issued last week restoring the celebration.
• She praised NIAF's five decades of work and described Italian‑American values of faith, family, and hard work as integral to the nation's development.
• President Sergio Mattarella sent a separate message lauding Italian‑Americans' contributions, which was read at the event by Ambassador Marco Peronaci.