Italy has slammed U.S. President Donald Trump over his claim that Premier Giorgia Meloni had “begged” for a photo with him during the recent G7 summit.
Trump had made the comments in an interview on the La7 broadcast network. The correspondent had asked Trump about Ukraine, but Trump raised Meloni and the conversation turned to their meeting during the just-concluded G7 meeting in Evian-les-Bains, France. Meloni and Trump were filmed speaking at several moments, including alone on a small sofa.
According to the broadcast network, Trump said Meloni had “begged” him to take a picture with her. Trump said he wasn’t obliged to do it but that he felt sorry for her and agreed.
Meloni for her part posted a video debunking Trump’s claims and expressing astonishment that he would invent such things about an ally. In her video, Meloni said she was responding to Trump’s claims because “certain things deserve an immediate response.”
“Donald Trump’s statements are completely fabricated. I am frankly stunned. I don’t know why the President of the United States behaves this way toward his own allies. After all, this isn’t the first time this has happened.”
Giorgia Meloni
It was an apparent reference to an interview Trump gave to Italian daily Corriere della Sera in April in which he criticized Meloni’s refusal to back the U.S.-Israel war in Iran. Meloni didn’t respond publicly at the time.
“I can only say that it’s a shame he doesn’t show the same resolve toward the enemies of the West, toward the enemies of the United States — toward leaders with whom he, on the other hand, is much more accommodating. But there’s one thing he must remember: Italy and I do not beg.”
Giorgia Meloni
Meloni had initially sought to build on longstanding strong U.S.-Italian ties when Trump began his second mandate, and had positioned herself as a “bridge” between Washington and the European Union. She was the lone EU head of state to attend his inauguration.
However, relations have frayed over the U.S. war in Iran, which Meloni has said was illegal, and Trump’s position on Ukraine, which Italy strongly supports. Trump’s tariffs and strong U.S. support of Israel over its war in Gaza have been other points of contention.
Criticism of Trump’s claim poured in from across the government and political spectrum, and included a call from President Sergio Mattarella, Italy’s Head of state, who called the Prime Minister to express his solidarity. “Whoever attacks @GiorgiaMeloni attacks all of us,” Transport Minister Matteo Salvini posted.
Justice Minister Carlo Nordio referenced the sacrifice of American troops in World War II in underlining the harm to U.S.-Italy relations caused by Trump. “The thousands of crosses marking the graves of American soldiers who died to free us from Nazi-Fascist dictatorship did not deserve such a painful blow to our fraternal ties,” Nordio said on X.
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said he didn’t believe Meloni would ever beg someone for a photo, “not even under threat.”
“I can, however, imagine how much it cost her to set aside what Trump had said weeks ago, to serve the interests of Italy, of Europe, and of the West. Jokes of this kind do no good to anyone: neither to the USA, nor to Italy, nor to the alliance.”
Guido Crosetto
Giovanbattista Fazzolari, an Undersecretary in Meloni’s office, also heavily criticised Trump’s attack on the Italian Prime Minister.
“It is unclear whether out of intent or ineptitude [Trump] is wrecking the historic relations between the United States and Europe. With his inappropriate outbursts, he has managed no easy feat, to make the United States unpopular across the entire European continent, damaging not only Europe but above all the United States.”
Giovanbattista Fazzolari
Italy’s Foreign Minister Cancels U.S Trip Over Trump’s Statement
Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani abruptly cancelled a planned trip to the United States this weekend, calling Trump’s claims “serious and offensive” toward Meloni and all of Italy.
“The serious and offensive words of President Trump towards Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy. For this reason, I have decided to cancel my visit to the United States scheduled for the next 21 and 22 June.”
Antonio Tajani
According to a U.S. State Department announcement of the meeting, Tajani had been due to travel to the U.S. to take part in an Italy-U.S. business forum in Miami during which he was to have meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
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