Trump and Meloni trade accusations after G7 photo dispute
Trump said Meloni sought G7 photos to lift her standing at home, while the Italian prime minister called the attacks senseless.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
US President Donald Trump has escalated a public dispute with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, saying she repeatedly sought photographs with him during the G7 summit in France to improve her political standing at home. The exchange matters because Meloni had been seen as one of Trump’s closest European partners, and the quarrel has already drawn a diplomatic response from Rome, AFP reported.
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday that Meloni had asked him “over and over” for a picture at the summit in Evian-les-Bains, according to AFP. He said she was trying to mend relations with Washington for domestic political reasons after Italy did not back US action against Iran.
Trump also claimed in the post that the United States had “defeated Iran militarily” and said Meloni now wanted friendship with Washington to raise her “numbers,” AFP reported. He added, “No thanks!!!”
Meloni rejected the accusation on Instagram on Saturday. “President Trump, these constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless,” she said, according to AFP. She said her public support depended on defending Italy’s national interest and said that was what she had done.
Dispute began after G7 summit
The latest exchange followed comments Trump made to Italian media on Thursday, when he said Meloni had “begged” him for a photo at the G7 meeting and that he agreed because he “felt sorry for her,” AFP reported. Meloni answered that she was “stunned” by what she called a fabricated account.
The summit took place in Evian-les-Bains, France, where G7 leaders discussed Ukraine, European security, the Middle East and other global issues. At the close of the meeting, Meloni had described the atmosphere as “very positive” and said there had been no friction between Trump and other leaders, according to AFP.
Trump’s Saturday post also returned to one of his recurring complaints about NATO, AFP reported. He said the United States spends hundreds of billions of dollars defending Italy and other “so-called” allies.
The remarks have angered Italian officials. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelled a planned trip to the United States on Friday, saying Trump’s comments about Meloni were “grave and offensive” and insulted all of Italy, AFP reported.
Ties strained over Iran and the pope
Meloni, who leads the far-right Brothers of Italy party, had worked for months to build ties with Trump while also trying to reassure European governments uneasy about his return to office, AFP reported. The relationship had already weakened during the conflict with Iran.
In a video posted on X after Trump’s first remarks, Meloni questioned why the US president treated allies in that way, AFP reported. She said it was regrettable that he did not show the same resolve toward the West’s enemies and said he appeared more accommodating toward those leaders.
Trump criticized Meloni in April after she defended Pope Leo XIV from his attacks on the pontiff’s antiwar position, according to AFP. At the time, Trump told Italian media that he had thought Meloni had courage but had been wrong, and he criticized her stance on Iran.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.