Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday accused her former close ally Donald Trump of making up a story about her, after the US president told an Italian television channel that she had “begged” him to take a photo with her at a G7 summit.
Meloni said she was “stunned” by his comments, which were “completely made up.” She accused him of acting with far more deference to the West's enemies than to established old allies.
The latest exchange marks a sharp deterioration in ties, and comes just days after the G7 summit indicated that the two right-wing leaders had stabilized a previously strained relationship following tensions this year over the war in Iran.
Video from the event in France showed Meloni and Trump deep in conversation, but the American leader suggested he had simply humored her by chatting with her.
“She begged me to take a photo with her. She wanted a photo with me so badly. I wouldn't have taken it, but I felt sorry for her,” Trump said, according to La7The translation of.
The channel did not publish the original audio, only a dubbed version.
Meloni responded: “Donald Trump's statements are completely invented. I am frankly amazed. I don't know why the president of the United States behaves like this with his allies: besides, it is not the first time.”
“I can only say that it is disappointing that he does not show the same determination towards the enemies of the West and the United States, whose leaders he treats with much greater leniency,” he said, adding: “There is one thing I should remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg.”
Italian chancellor cancels visit to the US
Following the American president's mocking comments, the Italian Foreign Minister announced the cancellation of a visit to the United States and harshly criticized Trump for his “offensive” words.
“President Trump's serious and offensive words… offend all of Italy,” Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who was due to visit the United States on June 21 and 22, said in X.
However, he later criticized the US president for lashing out at Pope Leo for his condemnation of the Iran conflict, distancing himself from Trump after the war began. That prompted a forceful rebuke from the American leader, who accused her of lacking courage.
