Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has addressed speculation about her relationship with tech billionaire Elon Musk, stating that their frequent meetings are rooted in mutual respect and shared interests, not romance. Speaking during a parliamentary session ahead of a European Union summit in Brussels, Meloni firmly denied being influenced by Musk, whose ventures span Tesla, SpaceX, and more.
“I can be a friend of Elon Musk and at the same time the head of the first Italian government that made a new law to regulate private activity in space,” Meloni said, highlighting her government’s recent legislative strides in the space sector.
The rumors of a romantic connection between Meloni and Musk began circulating after a photograph of the two at a black-tie event went viral. The image, which depicted Musk presenting Meloni with the Global Citizen Award from the Atlantic Council, drew significant public attention. While Musk called Meloni “even more beautiful inside than outside” in his speech, the Italian leader reciprocated by calling Musk a “precious genius.”
Despite the social media buzz and the New York Post labeling the event a “public love-in,” Musk categorically denied the rumors in September. Meloni also clarified her stance during the parliamentary session, stating, “I have good relationships with many people, but I don’t take orders from anyone.”
Meloni’s frequent meetings with Musk have coincided with her government’s efforts to attract foreign investment in Italy’s burgeoning space industry. A recently approved framework for foreign space companies to operate in Italy is projected to generate €7.3 billion ($7.7 billion) in investments by 2026.
Meloni also took a swipe at her predecessors, accusing them of being overly compliant in their relationships with foreign leaders. “Previous leaders who thought they had a good relationship, even a friendship, with a foreign leader had to slavishly follow what the others did,” she said.
The Italian Prime Minister’s interactions with other world leaders have also fueled online trends. Her meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave rise to the hashtag #Melodi, reflecting public fascination with the pair. As Meloni continues to cultivate high-profile relationships on the global stage, she remains adamant that her alliances serve Italy’s strategic interests rather than personal connections.
