Meloni Slams Trump Over G7 Photo Claim as Italy-US Diplomatic Row Deepens
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has strongly rejected claims made by U.S. President Donald Trump that she "begged" him for a photograph during the recent G7 summit in France, calling the story "completely made up."
The dispute erupted after Trump told an Italian television channel that Meloni had repeatedly requested a photo with him during the summit. According to reports, Trump claimed he agreed only because he felt sorry for her.
Responding in a video statement, Meloni said she was "astonished" by Trump's remarks and stressed that neither she nor Italy would ever beg for anything. She also criticized the U.S. president for treating long-standing Western allies with less respect than some of America's geopolitical rivals.
The fallout quickly escalated into a diplomatic issue. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled a planned visit to the United States, describing Trump's comments as offensive not only to Meloni but to Italy as a whole.
The confrontation marks a significant deterioration in relations between Trump and Meloni, who were previously considered ideological allies on issues such as immigration and conservative politics. Meloni was among the few European leaders to maintain close ties with Trump after his return to the White House, but tensions have grown in recent months over Iran, NATO and broader foreign policy disagreements.