President Donald Trump escalated his feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday, doubling down on his claim that she asked “over and over” for a photograph with him at the G7 summit in France while also criticizing her refusal to support U.S. military operations during the Iran war.
The dispute began Friday when Trump told Italian broadcaster La7 that Meloni “begged” him for a photo during the Group of Seven meeting in Evian-les-Bains. “She begged me to take a photo with her. She wanted a photo with me so badly — I could have skipped it, but I felt sorry for her,” Trump said in the interview.
Meloni swiftly rejected the account. “I’m frankly shocked” by Trump’s comments, she said, calling his claims “completely fabricated” and “totally invented.” The Italian government lined up behind her, with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announcing he was canceling a planned trip to the United States in response to what he called offensive remarks.
On Saturday, Trump posted on Truth Social that Meloni had requested the photo “over and over” during the G7 meeting. He also attacked her record in Italy, writing: “She is doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity, possibly because she turned down the United States of America, a Country that truly loves and protects Italy, when it came to denying Iran from obtaining or developing a Nuclear Weapon.”
Trump complained that Meloni “wouldn’t even let us use Italy’s landing strips or runways” during the Iran war. Italy, a key logistics hub for U.S. military operations, declined in March to allow American bombers headed for the Middle East to use a base in Sicily without parliamentary approval—a decision reflecting constitutional constraints and domestic opposition to the conflict.
Meloni responded directly via Instagram, stating: “These constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless. As for my popularity, being your friend certainly has not helped it, nor does it depend on my relationship with you. My popularity depends on my ability to defend Italy’s national interest, and that is exactly what I have always done.” She added: “My popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours.”
The clash marks a dramatic reversal for what was once a close political partnership. Meloni attended Trump’s inauguration in January 2025 as the only European leader present at the ceremony. Trump previously called her a “fantastic woman” who was “really taking Europe by storm.” The two right-wing leaders had been aligned on populist and nationalist causes.
Their relationship has deteriorated over the past several months. Earlier this year, Meloni criticized Trump after he lashed out at Pope Leo XIV over the pontiff’s condemnation of the Iran war. Trump responded by accusing the Italian prime minister of lacking courage, exposing divisions that strained what had been viewed as a strong political partnership.
Sources
- NBC News — Trump’s initial La7 interview claiming Meloni begged for a photo; Meloni’s response calling claims fabricated; Trump’s Saturday escalation via Truth Social; Tajani’s trip cancellation
- AP News — Trump’s Saturday posts on Truth Social doubling down on the photo claim; Trump’s criticism of Italy’s refusal to allow landing strip use during Iran war; Meloni’s Instagram response
- Reuters — Meloni’s statement that Trump “totally invented” the story
- PBS — Meloni’s video calling Trump’s claims “completely fabricated”; context on Italy’s March decision to require parliamentary approval for military base use
