We've just wrapped up a long question-and-answer session in the Oval Office - one that, for the most part, did not particularly focus on the US-Italy relationship or even the European Union.

The pool of reporters that was inside the room is now outside, filing stories into their laptops or outside doing live hits on TV.

While Trump was bullish about tariffs - insisted that his policy is bringing countries to the negotiating table - we heard very little about any US-EU trade deal, or any details about what that might look like. Trump expressed vague optimism about that.

Instead, both leaders seemed to be steering the topics to ones they agree on - such as immigration.

Similarly, we also heard that Meloni and Trump discussed defence spending, but not much more than that.

The devil, however, is in the details. Both leaders have now moved onto an expanded bilateral meeting that will include other officials. This closed-door meeting is likely where the granular details of their relationship will be discussed.

While Meloni is scheduled to leave afterwards, we may hear from Trump again later this afternoon when he signs executive orders.

At the moment, that event - at 1600 EST (20:00GMT) - is closed to the press. But often, they open up at short notice.

Optimism on show, but tough talk might happen off camera published at 18:34 British Summer Time

18:34 BST

Georgia Meloni has come to Washington carrying the hopes - and fears - of her European counterparts.

The cause for optimism was on display from the moment of her arrival, with these words from President Trump: The chemistry with Trump has been much talked about and, for an EU reeling from Trump’s blizzard of tariffs, that is Meloni’s biggest asset – her ability to speak the Trumpian language of a populist conservative leader with an anti-globalist, tough-on-immigration agenda.

But that very same dynamic is fuelling concerns in Brussels too.

For President Trump, diplomacy is all about personal relationships and the worry is that he could use the Italian PM to undermine European unity, a concept he has deep disdain for.

The EU, he claimed recently, was formed to rip off the United States.

Meloni will be on tricky ground in terms of Italy’s own trade gap with America, a deficit built on Parmesan and Prosecco, among other products, of some $45bn, one of the largest among the trading bloc.

Her mission though is not to negotiate the detail of trade policy – that is for the EU Commission – but rather to set the mood.

But as she sat down with the US president, she seemed to acknowledge there may be discussions ahead.

If there is going to be any tough talk – over America’s approach to the Ukraine war for example – expect it to take place well out of sight of the TV cameras.