Meloni uses ‘namaste’ greeting at US summit, sparks fresh wave of ‘Melodi’ buzz; WATCH

Published on Authored by C to I News Desk

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s recent gesture of greeting with a traditional Indian “namaste” during her visit to the United States has gone viral on social media, once again drawing attention to the growing public interest in the so-called “Melodi” phenomenon.

Giorgia Meloni
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Photo courtesy: x.com/GiorgiaMeloni

The term “Melodi” — a combination of Meloni and Modi — emerged on social media after the two leaders shared a friendly moment at the G7 Summit in Italy last year. A selfie video posted by Meloni, featuring a cheerful exchange with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, quickly gained widespread traction online and led to a wave of memes, fan edits, and discussions celebrating their warm diplomatic rapport.

The latest instance occurred as Meloni arrived for a multilateral summit in Washington, where she was seen exchanging a namaste with US chief of protocol Monica Crowley.

The moment, captured on video, spread rapidly across platforms, with many social media users attributing the gesture to the influence of Prime Minister Modi and pointing to the ongoing camaraderie between the two leaders.

This is not the first time Meloni has adopted the Indian greeting. She had previously used it while welcoming leaders at the G7 Summit hosted by Italy, drawing similar reactions from the public.

Meloni was in Washington on the invitation of US President Donald Trump for a high-level multilateral meeting focused on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The meeting was attended by European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and was aimed at discussing security guarantees for Ukraine in the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war.

During the summit, Meloni acknowledged recent developments in the conflict and noted signs of willingness from the Russian side to engage in dialogue, calling it a potential shift after three years of continued tensions.

The meeting marks a significant diplomatic engagement amidst heightened geopolitical developments in Europe, while Meloni’s repeated use of the namaste continues to resonate with global audiences, keeping the Melodi trend alive across digital platforms.