Generations of Italians have flocked to America in search of opportunity and enchantment. One recent arrival to New York, albeit only for a short trip in September, looked like she had hit upon both. Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, found herself feted in unique style at a glitzy ceremony on the sidelines of the annual United Nations confab in Manhattan. Bestowing an award upon her was none other than Elon Musk, a peddler of electric cars, rockets and political influence. The world’s richest man declared Ms Meloni “someone who is even more beautiful on the inside than she is on the outside”, among other compliments. Reciprocal flattery ensued: Mr Musk is a “precious genius”, apparently. Pictures of the two staring deep into each other’s eyes soon had tongues wagging. It fell to the entrepreneur’s mother to pour cold water on the rumours: Musk mère had been accompanying her son and could attest he had returned to his hotel alone that night.