Foreign News
Meloni Accuses Trump of Making Up G7 Photo ‘Begging’ Story
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday strongly rejected claims made by U.S. President Donald Trump that she had “begged” him to take a photograph with her during the recent G7 summit.
Meloni described the remarks as “completely made up” and said she was astonished by Trump’s comments, which she viewed as an unnecessary slight against a long-standing ally.
The dispute stems from comments Trump reportedly made in an interview with Italian television channel La7 following the G7 summit in France.
According to the broadcaster’s translation, Trump suggested that Meloni had been eager to be photographed with him and that he had only agreed out of sympathy.
Video footage from the summit showed the two leaders sitting together and engaged in an extended conversation, but Trump later downplayed the interaction.
Meloni’s Sharp Response
In a strongly worded statement, Meloni dismissed the claims outright.
“Donald Trump’s statements are completely made up. I am frankly astonished,” she said.
The Italian leader also criticised what she described as Trump’s tendency to treat allies more harshly than geopolitical rivals.
“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.
Meloni concluded her response with a pointed message: “There is one thing he should remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg.”
Italy Cancels Diplomatic Visit
The fallout quickly escalated beyond a war of words.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced the cancellation of a planned visit to the United States next week, describing Trump’s comments as offensive not only to Meloni but to Italy as a whole.
“The serious and offensive words of President Trump towards Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend the whole of Italy,” Tajani wrote on social media.
Senior Italian Officials Join Criticism
The dispute also prompted an unusually blunt intervention from Giovanbattista Fazzolari, one of Meloni’s closest political allies.
Fazzolari accused Trump of damaging transatlantic relations and undermining historic ties between Europe and the United States.
He said the U.S. president had succeeded in making America less popular across Europe and warned that such rhetoric was harming both European and American interests.
From Close Allies to Public Dispute
The exchange marks a significant deterioration in relations between the two right-wing leaders.
Meloni was once among Trump’s strongest supporters in Europe and attended his inauguration in 2025. However, tensions have grown this year, particularly after disagreements over the Iran conflict and criticism involving Pope Leo.
The latest row suggests that efforts to repair ties at the recent G7 summit may have been short-lived, with the public dispute now spilling into wider Italy-US relations.
(with inputs from Reuters)