Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni tore into President Trump Friday after he claimed that she “begged” him for a photo at this week’s G7 summit in France, saying she was “appalled” by his comment and warning him that “Italy and I never beg.”
“Donald Trump’s statements are completely fabricated. I am frankly appalled,” Meloni proclaimed in a video posted to Instagram.
“I don’t know why the President of the United States behaves this way towards his allies; after all, it’s not the first time it’s happened,” she went on. “I can only say it’s a pity that he doesn’t show the same determination with the enemies of the West, with the enemies of the United States.”
Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced on X that he was canceling a visit to the US planned for next week.
“The serious and offensive words of President Trump towards Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy,” Tajani wrote by way of explanation.
“I can’t imagine @GiorgiaMeloni asking anyone for a photo, not even under threat,” added Defense Minister Guido Crosetto. “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. And I imagine how much it will cost her not to comment as it deserves on this latest lapse in style by the US President.
“For all that ‘lapse in style’ is an implicit and undeserved acknowledgment, in this case, what hurts is that jokes of this kind do no good to anyone: neither to the USA, nor to Italy, nor to the alliance.”
Meloni, 49, was once deemed to be closest to Trump, 80, of any European leader, but the two have split over key global issues in recent months.
The Italian leader rankled Trump by siding with her European fellows over the Iran war, while defending Pope Leo XIV after the US president attacked the pontiff over his criticism of US military action in the Middle East.
Trump and Meloni were seen having a deep conversation on the sidelines of the G7, which was held this past Monday through Wednesday at the Evian-les-Bains resort on the shore of Lake Gevena.
“She’s probably happy I talked to her,” Trump later told Italian broadcaster La7. “I didn’t have to talk to her. She begged me to take a photo with her. She wanted a photo with me so much. I wouldn’t have even done it, but I felt sorry for her.”
The broadcaster only released a dubbed version of the interview, not actual audio of Trump slighting Meloni.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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