The Italian prime minister has accused Trump of creating up a narrative that she ‘begged’ him for a photograph on the G7 summit in France.
Revealed On 19 Jun 2026
A diplomatic row between United States President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has escalated, with Italy’s high diplomat cancelling an upcoming go to to the US.
At situation is Trump’s declare that Meloni “begged” him for {a photograph} throughout the Group of Seven (G7) assembly in France earlier within the week.
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“She’s in all probability blissful I talked to her. I didn’t have to speak to her,” Trump reportedly informed the Italian La7 community. The broadcaster solely revealed a dubbed Italian model of the interview, not the unique English model.
“She begged me to take an image together with her. She wished an image with me so badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, however I felt sorry for her.”
On Friday, Meloni posted a video answering Trump’s assertion, saying that “sure issues deserve a right away response”.
“Donald Trump’s statements are fully fabricated. I’m frankly shocked,” she mentioned. “I don’t know why the president of the US behaves this manner towards his personal allies. In any case, this isn’t the primary time this has occurred.”
The pinnacle of a far-right occasion who campaigned on an anti-immigrant platform, Meloni had lengthy been seen as one among Trump’s most supportive counterparts in Europe.
She had met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago property following his 2024 election victory and attended his inauguration in January 2025.
Nonetheless, the pair have diverged throughout Trump’s second time period over a number of points, together with assist for Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion, the US-Israeli battle with Iran, Trump’s threats to grab the Danish territory of Greenland and his criticism of Pope Leo.
In her video, Meloni mentioned it was a “disgrace” Trump didn’t present “the identical resolve towards the enemies of the West, towards the enemies of the US” as he did in his statements towards her.
She accused the US president of being “far more accommodating” to foes than allies.
“However there’s one factor he should keep in mind: Italy and I don’t beg,” she mentioned.
Shortly after Meloni posted the video, Italian International Minister Antonio Tajani mentioned he was cancelling a weekend journey to the US, the place he was scheduled to attend a enterprise discussion board in Miami, Florida and meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
He known as Trump’s reported statements “critical and offensive”. A number of different authorities officers additionally weighed in.
Justice Minister Carlo Nordio recommended Trump’s remarks besmirched the legacy of the US troopers who died throughout World Battle II.
“The 1000’s of crosses marking the graves of American troopers who died to free us from Nazi-Fascist dictatorship didn’t deserve such a painful blow to our fraternal ties,” Nordio posted on X.
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto mentioned he didn’t imagine Meloni would ever beg for a photograph, “not even underneath risk”.
“Jokes of this type do no good to anybody: neither to the USA, nor to Italy, nor to the alliance,” he mentioned.
The White Home didn’t instantly reply to Meloni’s feedback.
