Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has accused US President Donald Trump of fabricating comments about their interaction during the G7 summit. The statement came after Trump claimed that Meloni had asked him for a photo together.
Trump reportedly told an Italian television channel that Giorgia Meloni had “begged” him to take a picture with her during the summit. He suggested that he agreed only because he felt sorry for her.
The comments sparked a strong reaction from the Italian leader. Giorgia Meloni said she was surprised by the remarks and described them as completely false.
She criticized Trump’s approach toward longtime allies, saying he appeared to show more respect toward opponents of Western countries than to established partners.
The disagreement marks a new setback in the relationship between the two right-wing leaders. Their ties had recently shown signs of improvement after tensions earlier this year linked to the Iran conflict.
Videos from the G7 summit in France showed Meloni and Trump engaged in a detailed conversation. However, Trump suggested that he had only continued the discussion after being approached by the Italian prime minister.
The television channel that aired Trump’s remarks did not release the original recording. It only provided a translated version of his comments.
Responding to the statement, Meloni said Trump’s words were disappointing. She added that she could not understand why the US president repeatedly acted this way toward allies.
She also criticized Trump for showing less firmness toward leaders considered opponents of the West. Meloni said neither she nor Italy would ever ask for favors from others.
Following the controversy, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled a planned visit to the United States. The visit was scheduled for June 21 and 22.
Tajani described Trump’s comments as offensive and said they had hurt the feelings of people across Italy. He shared his criticism in a statement on social media.
The dispute follows earlier disagreements between Trump and Meloni over international issues. Meloni had criticized Trump after he targeted Pope Leo for comments regarding the Iran conflict.
Trump responded by accusing the Italian leader of lacking courage. The latest exchange has raised questions about the future direction of relations between Italy and the United States.
In other news read more about Trump Faces Backlash As US Media Calls Iran Deal Claims A ‘Spin Job’
Despite the disagreement, both countries remain important partners within Western alliances. The situation is being closely monitored as diplomatic discussions continue.
