A war of words has erupted between Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Donald Trump after the U.S. President told Italian media that Meloni “begged” to take a photograph with him at the G7 summit earlier this week.
Meloni, once a close ally of Trump, issued a strongly worded rebuke, saying she was “astonished” by the President's comments, which she described as entirely fabricated.
"Donald Trump's statements are completely made up. I am frankly astonished. I don't know why the President of the United States behaves like this towards his allies: it is not the first time, moreover."
Meloni went on to criticise Trump for what she suggested was a softer approach towards the West’s adversaries.
"I can only say it is disappointing that he does not show the same determination with the enemies of the West and of the United States, whose leaders he instead treats with far greater indulgence," she said.
“There is one thing he should remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg."
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced he was cancelling a planned visit to the U.S. next week in response to Trump's remarks.
"The serious and offensive words of President Trump towards Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend the whole of Italy,” Tajani wrote on X.
Video footage from the G7 summit in France showed Meloni and Trump deep in conversation, sitting side by side on a small sofa.
However, in an interview with La7 television, the U.S. President suggested he had only appeared alongside Meloni out of pity.
"She's probably happy I talked to her. I didn't have to talk to her," Trump was quoted as saying.
"She begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn't have taken it, but I felt sorry for her," Trump said, according to La7's translation.
Meloni was once a vocal supporter of Trump and was the only European leader to attend his inauguration in 2025.
Trump initially showered her with praise, calling her at various times in 2024 and 2025 "a fantastic leader and person", "a beautiful young woman", "a very successful politician" and "an inspiration to all".
When Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on the European Union, Meloni distinguished herself by maintaining a conciliatory tone towards the President, arguing that it was more important to keep the Western alliance united against common adversaries.
She also avoided publicly criticising him over his administration’s cuts to military aid for Ukraine in its war with Russia and over his reluctance to put pressure on Israel to end the conflict in Gaza.
However, relations between the two leaders have deteriorated sharply since the U.S. began its war with Iran at the end of February.
Meloni came to the defence of Pope Leo after Trump lashed out at him over his criticism of the conflict, prompting Trump to accuse her of lacking courage.
Meloni also denied U.S. military aircraft carrying weapons for the Iran war access to an airbase in Sicily, saying American authorities had not followed the necessary procedures.
"This was the original sin, in Trump's eyes," said Francesco Galietti of political risk consultancy Policy Sonar.
“In the short term, Galietti said Meloni might benefit domestically from standing up to Trump, who is highly unpopular in Italian opinion polls. But she risks losing a plank of her political narrative ahead of elections due next year,” he said.
"This is like a horrible slap in the face," he said. "It completely jeopardises her strategy that when we hold elections, the Italians will eventually choose her because she is the safest pair of hands."
China's technology sector is producing billion-dollar startups at its fastest pace in nearly five years, with artificial intelligence and robotics dri...
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to resume talks with Iran after Tehran requested further negotiations, but declared that last m...
What began as a fan-created chant just months ago has become one of the defining images of this year's FIFA World Cup, with Norway's "Viking Row" swee...
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to resume talks with Iran after Tehran requested further negotiations, but declared that last month's ceasefire between the two countries was "over".
What began as a fan-created chant just months ago has become one of the defining images of this year's FIFA World Cup, with Norway's "Viking Row" sweeping through stadiums, city streets and social media.
AnewZ's Daybreak on 10 July covered mounting tensions in the Middle East, political developments in the UK, and major stories from the South Caucasus and Central Asia, alongside key international news.
Ukraine is facing one of the most difficult moments of the war, as a convergence of corruption scandals, political turbulence, financial uncertainty and intensifying Russian offensives places unprecedented strain on the country’s ability to defend itself.
It has been a punishing week for large parts of China, and forecasters warn the worst may not be over. After Typhoon Maysak left a trail of destruction and at least 23 people dead, Super Typhoon Bavi is now threatening the country's eastern coast.
At least 12 people have been killed in forest fires in Almeria in southern Spain, Andalucía’s emergency agency has said, as firefighters continue efforts to put out the blaze.
The death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes has risen to 3,811, according to figures released by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez on Wednesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to resume talks with Iran after Tehran requested further negotiations, but declared that last month's ceasefire between the two countries was "over".
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in the latest escalation to derail efforts to end the war.
China's technology sector is producing billion-dollar startups at its fastest pace in nearly five years, with artificial intelligence and robotics driving a new wave of investment that is reshaping the country's innovation economy.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged China and North Korea to strengthen cooperation and maintain "strategic resolve" amid what he described as growing global instability. He made the remarks during talks with North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song in Beijing on Friday.
British police have arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of the murder of Ann Widdecombe, a former government minister whose death was announced on Friday.
Andy Burnham is on the brink of becoming Labour leader and prime minister after securing the overwhelming backing of Labour MPs in the first round of leadership nominations.
The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum will bring together nearly 160 media leaders, experts and officials from 54 countries in Azerbaijan's historic city of Shusha on 13-14 July, to discuss journalism’s role in peacebuilding, restoring public trust and tackling challenges.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment