U.S. President Donald Trump continued his criticism of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with a post on the Truth Social platform. Trump alleged that Meloni 'repeatedly insisted' on taking a photo with him at the recent G7 summit held in France.
Meloni denied the claims in a statement on Friday, saying Trump 'made up a baseless story.' However, Trump insisted on his claim in his Saturday post.
Criticized for withdrawing support on Iran
Trump criticized Meloni not only for the photo claim but also for her policies toward Iran. According to Trump, Meloni's political popularity in Italy is 'collapsing' because she refuses to support the U.S. in preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Trump argued that Italy's refusal to allow the U.S. to use its airstrips during the war against Iran caused a logistical nightmare for Washington. Trump said, "After the U.S. defeats Iran militarily, Meloni wants to be our friend again to boost her popularity. No, thank you."
Harsh response from Meloni
Giorgia Meloni responded to Trump's claims with a video message on Friday. Meloni said Trump's claims were 'completely fabricated,' adding, "I and Italy do not beg."
Footage from the G7 summit showed Meloni and Trump sitting side by side on a couch, having a long conversation. Trump later said he was just 'showing warmth' to Meloni during that talk.
Diplomatic tension grows
Trump's remarks caused tension in Italy-U.S. relations. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced on Friday that he had cancelled a planned visit to the U.S. next week. This move is seen as a diplomatic response to Trump's words.
Elected in October 2022 to head a highly conservative coalition government, Meloni was seen as one of Trump's closest allies in Europe and often tried to bridge differences between the U.S. and the European continent.
