A diplomatic rift between US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has deepened in recent days, with the two leaders trading public accusations and escalating their dispute beyond an initial disagreement over a G7 photo to broader questions about Italy’s support for US military actions and NATO commitments.
The row began when Trump told Italian broadcaster La7 that Meloni had “begged” him for a photograph during the G7 summit in France on June 16. “She begged me to take a photo with her; I felt sorry for her,” Trump said in the interview, claiming he agreed out of sympathy.
Meloni flatly rejected the claim. In a video posted to Instagram on June 19, the Italian prime minister said Trump’s account was “completely fabricated” and expressed astonishment at his behavior. “I don’t know why the US president behaves this way towards allies,” she said. “But there is one thing he needs to remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg.”
The Italian government closed ranks behind Meloni. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said he did not believe Meloni would ever beg for a photo “not even under threat.” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced he was canceling a planned trip to the United States, saying Trump’s comments were “serious and offensive” and had offended “all of Italy.”
Trump then escalated the dispute beyond the photo claim. On June 20, he doubled down on his account during a phone call with NBC News and shifted focus to military matters, accusing Meloni of not supporting US efforts against Iran. He said Italy had refused to allow the United States to use Italian air bases for military operations, describing this as a “great logistical inconvenience.”
Meloni responded sharply on June 21, telling Trump on social media to “focus on your own popularity.” She said his “constant, unprovoked attacks” were “senseless” and that her political standing did not depend on her relationship with him. On the Iran matter, she stated that the use of Italian bases “is governed by agreements that we have always respected, and that cannot be violated as long as I am prime minister.”
The escalation reflects a longer cooling in their relationship. Meloni was once considered one of Trump’s closest allies in Europe and notably attended his inauguration in January 2025, but tensions have mounted since Trump’s military action against Iran earlier this year. According to the New York Times, as public opinion in Italy turned against the Iran war, Meloni began speaking out against it, putting her at odds with the US president. The two also clashed in April 2026 when Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV, with Meloni calling his remarks “unacceptable.”
The diplomatic fallout signals a broader shift in European-American relations under Trump’s second term. What began as a personal dispute over a photograph has exposed deeper disagreements over military strategy, NATO commitments, and the extent to which Italy will align with US foreign policy decisions.
Sources
- BBC — Meloni’s response to Trump’s photo claim, her statement on popularity, and the broader context of their relationship
- NBC News — Trump’s phone call doubling down on the photo claim and accusations about Iran support
- NPR — Initial reporting on the G7 photo dispute and Meloni’s denial
- CNN — Italian Foreign Minister Tajani’s cancellation of his US trip
- PBS — Background on Meloni as Trump’s closest ally and the evolution of tensions
- Fox News — Trump’s accusations that Italy refused to help during the Iran war
- The Independent — Tajani’s statement that Trump’s comments were offensive to Italy
- New York Times — Context on Meloni’s shift away from Trump over Iran war and Italian public opinion
