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By Marni Rose McFall and Hollie Silverman
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President Donald Trump has hit out against Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as a dispute over a photograph continues to swell into a diplomatic issue.
Italy’s foreign minister on Friday canceled a planned visit to the U.S. over comments that Trump made about Meloni, specifically that she had “begged” him for a photograph during the G7 summit.
Meloni strongly denied his claim, saying it was "completely unfounded" and adding, "Neither I, nor Italy, ever beg."
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Early Tuesday, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social: “Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked, over and over, for a picture with me during the G-7 meeting in France."
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President Trump accused Meloni of doing “poorly in Italy with her level of popularity,” and attributed this to Italy not becoming involved in the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran.
“Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her “numbers up.” No thanks!!!”
The exchange and ensuing conflict indicate how ties between Trump and Meloni, who is ideologically one of Trump’s closest allies on the continent, have frayed in the months since the onset of the U.S. and Israel’s war on Iran.
Trump Comments About Meloni Photograph Explained
Trump told the Italian broadcaster La7 that Meloni had “begged” him for a photograph during the G7 summit between world leaders, which took place from June 15 to 17.
"She wanted a picture with me so badly," Trump said. "I wouldn't have taken it, but I felt sorry for her."
The two were seen in close conversation at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains in France and were filmed together multiple times.
Trump told La7, “She’s probably happy I spoke to her.”
La7 did not produce the president’s original words in English, instead voicing them over in Italian.
On Saturday, Trump reiterated his claims in a post on Truth Social, reposting his initial message that reads in part, "She wouldn’t even let us use Italy’s landing strips or runways, a great logistical inconvenience, and this despite the fact the U.S. contributes hundreds of Billions of Dollars a year to protect Italy, and other 'so-called' NATO Allies."
How Meloni Has Responded
Meloni reacted in shock and said on Instagram that she was “frankly stunned” by the president’s remarks. “I don’t know why the U.S. president behaves this way towards allies.”
"I can only say it is regrettable he does not show the same determination towards the enemies of the West and towards the enemies of the US - [enemies] whose leaders he instead appears to be far more accommodating with."
In a post on Instagram Saturday, Meloni said “President Trump, these constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless.”
“My popularity is none of your concern," she said, adding, "I suggest you focus on yours.”
And Trump’s remarks have been met with wider opposition from the Italian leadership.
Antonio Tajani, Italy's top diplomat, said Trump's remarks were "serious and offensive" and an affront to “all of Italy.”
Tajani’s planned visit to the U.S. was cancelled.
Fractures in the Relationship Between the U.S. and Italy
The relationship between the U.S. and European allies has grown increasingly fraught through Trump’s second term in office, due to disputes over the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, threats to acquire Greenland, and the use of tariffs against European allies.
Meloni, who attended Trump’s 2025 inauguration, in some ways exemplifies this shift.
She broke publicly with the Trump administration over the war in Iran and said “we do not agree” with the U.S. approach.
Meloni’s government denied the United States permission to use the Sigonella air base in Sicily for military operations linked to the conflict, in a move that was seen as an attempt to avoid deeper involvement.
And it’s one that Trump referenced directly in his post on Truth Social, writing: “She wouldn’t even let us use Italy’s landing strips or runways, a great logistical inconvenience.”
He said in the post that Meloni was unpopular in Italy, “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.”
The U.S. and Iran have signed an agreement between the two countries, which is now in effect.
How the relationship between Italy and the U.S. will continue to revolve following this clash remains unclear.
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