The Italian government on Friday strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion that Premier Giorgia Meloni had pleaded for a photo with him during the recent G7 summit, a response suggesting the longtime ally had grown weary of Trump's boasts.
Diplomatic Fallout
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani abruptly canceled a planned trip to the United States this weekend, describing Trump's claims as "serious and offensive" toward Meloni and all of Italy.
Meloni herself posted a video calling Trump's remarks "completely fabricated," ending with the statement: "Italy and I do not beg."
Trump's Interview
Trump made the comments in an interview broadcast Friday morning on Italy's La7 network. The correspondent had asked about Ukraine, but Trump shifted the conversation to Meloni and their meeting during the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France. Video footage showed Meloni and Trump speaking at multiple points, including alone on a small sofa.
According to La7, Trump said Meloni had "begged" him for a photo opportunity. He claimed he was not obligated to comply but felt sorry for her and agreed. The broadcaster aired a dubbed version of the conversation, not the original English audio.
Meloni's Response
In her video, Meloni explained she was reacting to Trump's claims because "certain things deserve an immediate response." She expressed astonishment, saying, "Donald Trump's statements are completely fabricated. I am frankly stunned. I don't know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his own allies. After all, this isn't the first time this has happened."
This referred to a previous Trump interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera in April, where he criticized Meloni for not supporting the U.S.-Israel war in Iran. Meloni did not respond publicly at that time.
By Friday, however, she appeared to have reached her limit. "I can only say that it's a shame he doesn't show the same resolve toward the enemies of the West, toward the enemies of the United States — toward leaders with whom he, on the other hand, is much more accommodating," Meloni said. "But there's one thing he must remember: Italy and I do not beg."
Strained Relations
Meloni initially sought to build on strong U.S.-Italian ties when Trump began his second term, positioning herself as a bridge between Washington and the European Union. She was the only EU head of state to attend his inauguration.
However, relations have deteriorated due to the U.S. war in Iran, which Meloni deemed illegal, and Trump's stance on Ukraine, which Italy strongly supports. Trump's tariffs and his unwavering support for Israel in the Gaza war have further strained ties.
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto also rebuked Trump's claims, stating he did not believe Meloni would ever beg for a photo, "not even under threat." He added, "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. Jokes of this kind do no good to anyone: neither to the USA, nor to Italy, nor to the alliance."
