Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday accused U.S. President Donald Trump of making up a story after he claimed in an interview with Italy’s La7 television that she had “begged” to take a photo with him at this week’s G7 summit in France. The dispute marks a sharp downturn in their ties, only days after the summit appeared to ease tensions that had surfaced earlier this year over differences about the war in Iran.
Video released from the summit showed Meloni and Trump talking at length while seated together on a small sofa, but Trump described the meeting very differently. In the La7 interview, after bringing up Meloni’s name himself, he said, “She was probably happy that I spoke to her. I did not have to talk to her.” He then added, “She was begging me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so badly. I would not have taken a picture with her, but I felt sorry for her.” The report said La7 did not publish the original audio, only a dubbed version.
Meloni responded in a sharply worded statement. “Donald Trump’s statements are completely made up. I am honestly shocked,” she said. “I do not know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his allies, it is not the first time either.” She also said she was disappointed that Trump does not show the same determination toward Western and American enemies, adding, “There is one thing he should remember, neither I nor Italy ever beg.”
The fallout deepened when Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled a planned trip to the United States next week, saying on X that Trump’s “serious and offensive words” toward Meloni hurt all of Italy. One of Meloni’s closest allies, government undersecretary Giovanbattista Fazzolari, also attacked Trump, saying it was unclear whether from intent or incapacity he was destroying the historic U.S.-Europe relationship. He said Trump’s “inappropriate outbursts” had made the United States unpopular across Europe, harming Europe and, above all, America itself.
