Donald Trump has praised Italy’s hard-line approach to immigration and encouraged other European countries to follow suit.
In a meeting at the White House on Monday, the US president told his Italian counterpart he “very much agreed” with the way he has handled Europe’s migrant crisis.
Mr Trump told Giuseppe Conte: "I agree very much with what you're doing with respect to migration, illegal immigration and even legal immigration.
He added: “He has taken a very firm stance on the border, a stance that few countries have taken. And frankly he is doing the right thing in my opinion.
“A lot of other countries in Europe should be doing it also," Mr Trump said.
Mr Trump welcomed the prime minister to the White House for the first time since the Italian leader came to power in June, bringing together two outsider leaders who have emerged from populist waves within their countries.
Mr Conte leads the eurosceptic coalition of the 5-Star Movement, which considers itself anti-establishment, and the right-wing, north-based League party.
Mr Trump last week avoided escalating a trade dispute with the European Union and his administration is expected to begin negotiations quickly on avoiding tariffs on automobiles and removing trade barriers.
The US president noted the US trade deficit with Italy, a member of the EU, and said he was certain "we'll straighten that out pretty quickly."
The White House has noted that Italy is an important NATO ally and a key partner to U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Mr Conte, in brief remarks, thanked Mr Trump for his "warm hospitality."
