Interpreter Apologizes After White House Misstep During Meloni-Trump Meeting
Italian PM Giorgia Meloni steps in after interpreter falters during crucial diplomatic exchange with Donald Trump.
A moment of tension unfolded at the White House earlier this week during a high-profile meeting between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and U.S. President Donald Trump, when Meloni’s interpreter struggled to provide a timely and accurate translation. The incident prompted Meloni to take matters into her own hands, switching to English to ensure clarity during a critical discussion on NATO and defense spending.
Valentina Maiolini-Rothbacher, the interpreter at the center of the mishap, has since publicly apologized, describing the moment as “the worst thing that can happen to an interpreter” and “a terrible setback.” In an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera, Maiolini-Rothbacher expressed regret for not being effective in such a pivotal moment, stating, “I’m sorry above all for not having been useful.”
A Diplomatic Hiccup in a High-Stakes Setting
Footage from the meeting shows Trump asking for a translation of Meloni’s response to a journalist’s question concerning his stance on the war in Ukraine and U.S. military aid. As Maiolini-Rothbacher hesitated, flipping through notes and pausing frequently, Meloni interrupted and addressed Trump directly in English.
“She was absolutely right to do so,” the interpreter admitted. “This was an important diplomatic meeting where every word carried significant weight. Prime Minister Meloni wanted to ensure that her message was fully understood.”
Despite the public stumble, Maiolini-Rothbacher emphasized her extensive experience, noting that while this was her first visit to the White House, she has interpreted at major international events, including G20 summits. According to her LinkedIn profile, she has worked in the field since 1991.
Following the meeting, she departed directly for the airport without further communication with Meloni and is reportedly taking time to recover in Santa Marinella, a coastal town near Rome.
Meloni’s Clear Message and Trump’s Reaction
During the exchange, Meloni reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to NATO and transatlantic cooperation. In response, Trump stated that he does not blame Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the conflict with Russia, though he admitted he is “not exactly thrilled with the fact that the war started.”
The diplomatic visit continued the next day, with Meloni hosting U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Rome, further reinforcing the importance of Italy-U.S. relations in the current geopolitical climate.