Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has said Donald Trump “completely made up” a story about her, after the US president claimed she begged him for a photo during the G7 summit. The two former allies had seemed to be rebuilding their relationship with several private talks on the sidelines of the meeting in Évian, after falling out in April over the US-Israeli war in Iran.
But in a brief interview with Italy’s La7 — a dubbed version aired by the Italian TV network on Friday — Trump said of Meloni: “She’s probably happy I talked to her. I didn’t have to talk to her. She begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her.”
The comments sparked anger in Italy and drew support for Meloni from across the political spectrum. Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said he had canceled a trip to the US next week.
In a video posted on Instagram with the caption “Italy and I never beg,” Meloni said “some things deserve an immediate response.” She added: “Donald Trump’s statements are completely made up. Frankly, I’m stunned. I don’t know why the US president behaves this way toward his allies. This isn’t the first time it’s happened. I can only say it’s unfortunate he doesn’t show the same determination toward the West’s enemies.”
Trump and Meloni fell out in April for two reasons: Italy’s refusal to support the US-Israeli war in Iran, and Trump’s extraordinary attack on Pope Leo after the pontiff condemned the war. Until then, Meloni had long maintained good relations with Trump, mostly based on shared nationalist rhetoric, and was the only European leader invited to his inauguration as US president.
Giuseppe Conte, the former prime minister and leader of the opposition Five Star Movement, said Italy “doesn’t deserve to be so blatantly humiliated.”
Announcing the cancellation of his planned trip to the US on X, Tajani said: “The serious and offensive words of President Trump toward Prime Minister Giorgia offend all of Italy.”
Giovanbattista Fazzolari, undersecretary to the prime minister’s office, said in a statement: “It’s unclear whether out of intent or incompetence [Trump] is wrecking the historic relations between the United States and Europe. With his inappropriate outbursts, he has managed, no easy feat, to make the US unpopular across the entire European continent, damaging not only Europe but above all the US.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the reported incident involving Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and former US President Donald Trump
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What happened between Meloni and Trump
According to reports Donald Trump claimed that Giorgia Meloni begged him for a photo during a meeting Melonis team later said she was stunned by this claim and denied asking for the photo
2 Did Meloni actually beg for a photo
No Melonis camp strongly denies this They say she did not beg for a photo and that the claim is completely false
3 Why did Meloni feel stunned
She was reportedly shocked because the claim contradicted her memory of the polite professional interaction She felt the story painted her as desperate or overly eager which she believed was untrue
4 Where did this story come from
The story originated from a report by a US journalist or insider which was then picked up by Italian and international media Trump himself allegedly made the comment during a private conversation
5 Is this a big deal in Italy
Yes Italian media has covered it heavily because it touches on national pride and the perception of Italys leader on the world stage
AdvancedLevel Questions
6 What is the political context of this dispute
Meloni is a rightwing leader who has tried to build a working relationship with Trump who is also a rightwing populist The photo claim could be seen as an attempt by Trump to assert dominance or mock a potential ally damaging Melonis image as a strong independent leader
7 How did Melonis office officially respond
Her office issued a firm denial calling the claim unfounded and inaccurate They emphasized that the meeting was cordial and that Meloni did not request any photo
8 Could this affect USItaly relations
Probably not in a major way Both leaders have an interest in maintaining good relations However it could create a small personal rift making future interactions more cautious
9 What does begged mean in this context
In diplomatic language begged is a very strong derogatory term It implies desperation and a lack of dignity Melonis team objected to the word because it suggests she acted subserv
