Former US President Donald Trump has escalated his public feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, alleging she repeatedly sought a photograph with him during the recent G7 summit and is now desperate to mend relations with Washington. In a lengthy post on Truth Social on June 20, Trump renewed his criticism of Meloni, specifically targeting her government's refusal to support a US-led military campaign against Iran.
Trump asserted that Meloni's stance on Iran had damaged her political standing in Italy and that she was now seeking closer ties with the United States following what he described as America's military victory over Tehran. He wrote, "Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked, over and over, for a picture with me during the G-7 meeting in France." He further criticized Italy for denying the US access to its airfields and runways for military operations, calling it "a great logistical inconvenience."
Meloni Fires Back at "Made Up" Claims
A day prior to Trump's Truth Social post, the US President had told a television channel that Meloni had "begged" him for a photo at the G7. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni swiftly countered these claims, describing them as "completely made up."
In a strongly worded statement posted on X, Meloni expressed her astonishment at Trump's comments and accused him of repeatedly insulting America's allies. "Donald Trump's statements are completely made up, I'm frankly appalled. I don't know why the President of the United States behaves this way with his own allies; after all, it's not the first time it's happened," she stated. Meloni also criticized Trump for reserving his harshest rhetoric for allies rather than adversaries, concluding with a pointed rebuke: "However, one thing he must remember: I and Italy never beg."
Alliance Under Strain Over Iran Policy
This escalating war of words marks a significant deterioration in a relationship that had previously been viewed as one of Trump's stronger partnerships in Europe. Meloni, a conservative leader who often shares ideological ground with Trump on issues such as migration and nationalism, has nevertheless diverged from Washington on the recent US-Israel military campaign against Iran.
Italy declined to support the operation, with Meloni publicly criticizing the intervention. This created one of the deepest rifts between the two leaders since Trump returned to office. Trump further asserted that Meloni wanted a picture with him "so badly" and said he only considered taking one because he felt sorry for her.
Diplomatic Repercussions
The dispute has already triggered diplomatic repercussions. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced the cancellation of a planned visit to the United States, stating that Trump's comments about Meloni had offended not only the prime minister but the Italian nation as a whole. Tajani described the US president's remarks as unacceptable and noted they had caused widespread outrage in Italy, further deepening tensions between two governments that have traditionally maintained close strategic and military ties.
The escalating rhetoric highlights growing transatlantic divisions, particularly in the wake of the Iran conflict, and raises significant questions about the future of US-Italy relations, once considered among Washington's most reliable partnerships in Europe.