Italian PM Speaks At DC Event
Giorgia Meloni’s speech at CPAC was nothing short of a call to arms—an unflinching defense of European identity in the face of what she described as ideological erosion. Speaking via video to an audience deeply attuned to the struggles of Western conservatism, Italy’s prime minister did not mince words.
Europe, she warned, had sacrificed its essence “on the altar of wokeness, bureaucracy, and mercantilism.” It was a stark indictment of the forces she believes are chipping away at the continent’s cultural and political foundations.
Her address also served as a direct rebuttal to the criticism leveled at U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who had recently sparked controversy at the Munich Security Conference by condemning European censorship and the erosion of cultural sovereignty. Meloni was unwavering in her support.
“We must say to [the elites] that we will never be ashamed of who we are,” she declared. In her view, national identity is not just a relic of the past but the cornerstone of a thriving future. “Without a deep-rooted identity, we cannot be great again,” she affirmed, a phrase that undoubtedly resonated with her American audience.
At the heart of Meloni’s remarks was a deep skepticism of the European establishment, particularly its embrace of mass migration and what she called the “mainstream propaganda machine.”
These forces, she argued, have sought to marginalize conservative leaders like herself by falsely predicting that Italy’s nationalist policies would lead to international isolation. Instead, Meloni painted a picture of a resurgent, self-confident Europe—one in which leaders like her are proving their critics wrong.
But it was her critique of American leftist ideology that struck a particularly sharp note. According to Meloni, the ruling classes and mainstream media in Europe have eagerly imported the most “reckless theories” from across the Atlantic, accelerating what she sees as the erosion of traditional values. This was not just a cultural concern; for Meloni, it is a matter of security. “You cannot defend your freedom if you lack the means or the courage to do so,” she warned.
In reaffirming her support for Vance, Meloni reminded European leaders that before they could discuss defense and security, they first had to define what they were actually defending.
“Vice President Vance was discussing something deeper,” she said—namely, “identity, democracy, [and] freedom of speech.” Without these, alliances are little more than hollow partnerships.