President Barack Obama hosted outgoing Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on Friday, calling him “an extraordinary leader” that understands the “extraordinary connection that derives from the tradition of Italian-Americans making enormous contributions to the United States.” More from the White House pool report:
POTUS thanked Napolitano for being a “tremendous host” when the First Family visited Italy and said that upon his re-election, one of the first questions his daughters asked him was, “Does this mean we can go back to Italy?”
Napolitano said he had been “deeply touched” by POTUS’s words and said they shared “a common sense of confidence in the future of Italy and of the U.S.-Italy relations.” As Napolitano spoke, POTUS, his hand on his chin, nodded frequently and smiled.
