New Rift Emerges Between Trump and Meloni
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has strongly denied a claim by U.S. President Donald Trump that she begged him to take a photo with her during the recent G7 summit.
The dispute emerged after Trump, speaking in an interview with Italian television network La7, said Meloni had been eager to be photographed with him and had repeatedly sought his attention. He suggested he only agreed to the photo out of sympathy.
Meloni quickly rejected the account, calling it completely false. In a video posted on Instagram, she said she was astonished by Trump’s remarks and emphasized that neither she nor Italy would ever “beg” anyone. She also questioned why the U.S. president appeared willing to direct such criticism at allies while showing less resolve toward Western adversaries.
The exchange comes after signs that relations between the two leaders had begun to improve. During the G7 summit in Évian, France, Meloni and Trump reportedly held several private meetings following tensions earlier this year. Their relationship had been strained by disagreements over Italy’s refusal to support U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran and by Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV after the pontiff condemned the conflict.
Trump and Meloni had previously maintained a close political relationship, built in part on shared nationalist themes. Meloni was notably the only European leader invited to attend Trump’s presidential inauguration.
The controversy triggered criticism across Italy’s political spectrum. Opposition leader Giuseppe Conte said the country had been publicly humiliated by Trump’s comments. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced he was canceling a planned trip to the United States, arguing that Trump’s remarks were offensive not only to Meloni but to Italy as a whole.
Senior government official Giovanbattista Fazzolari also criticized Trump, warning that repeated attacks on European allies risk damaging long-standing relations between the United States and Europe and could further weaken America’s standing across the continent.
The dispute marks a significant setback in efforts to repair ties between the two leaders and highlights broader tensions affecting transatlantic relations.
