Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken on Tuesday warned President Donald Trump to cease his attacks on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, asserting that the MAGA leader is not the boss in Europe and that Meloni holds the dominant position. In an interview with Politico, Francken, a member of Belgium's conservative nationalist New Flemish Alliance party, stated that the European Union will still require U.S. support for continental defense for up to another decade, urging European leaders not to antagonize Trump while simultaneously cautioning the president to restrain himself.
'Of course we need him as an ally, but don't touch Meloni,' Francken told Politico. 'She's the queen of center-right in Europe. She's the alpha. Leave her alone.'
Trump's Feud with Meloni Escalates
Trump reignited his conflict with Meloni on Sunday by sharing a photo taken during the recent G7 summit in France. The image shows the significantly shorter Italian prime minister looking up at Trump, with superimposed text reading, 'RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED.' Trump has a history of attacking NATO allies and female political leaders.
Last year, Trump described Meloni as 'a beautiful young woman,' but in June he launched an apparent vendetta, claiming Meloni had 'begged' him for a photo at the G7 and that he only complied because he 'felt sorry for her.' Meloni later responded in a social media video, calling his story 'completely fabricated.'
Europe's Defense Dependency
Francken wagered that Europe remains 'five to 10 years' away from achieving the military capabilities necessary to defend the continent without U.S. assistance. He urged Europeans 'to keep Americans on board' as an ally during this interim period. His comments come as EU nations increase defense budgets amid Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and fears of further aggression from President Vladimir Putin, and after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a review of American military spending in Europe.
Francken appeared to decry Trump's feud with Meloni as a childish distraction, telling Politico, 'I love her, she's conservative, she is totally on the same line … and then you're going to have a fight on what? On a picture!'
Diplomatic Fallout
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled his trip to the United States in June as a result of what he called 'serious and offensive' behavior from Trump, who had also told NBC News at the time that Meloni was 'a big fan' of his and is 'doing poorly in Italy.' Footage of the duo conversing at the G7 showed no signs of Meloni 'begging,' and she stated in her social media response, 'Italy and I do not beg.' Francken urged both sides to de-escalate, saying, 'We need the Americans, be diplomatic, listen to what they say, try to be gentle.'
