Meloni and Trump Clash Over an Insult, National Pride and Politics
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has often been the only woman in summit group photos, is now in a very public fight with Donald Trump, after what she sees as an attack on her and on Italy’s dignity. The dispute comes after a phone interview Trump gave to Italian television following last week’s G7 summit in Evian, France, where the two leaders had once enjoyed a warm relationship and where Meloni had been viewed as a bridge between Europe and the United States.
Trump said on La7 TV, in a translation shown on screen, that relations had not changed and that Meloni had never criticized him at the summit. He then claimed, “She was probably happy that I spoke with her. She begged me to take a picture with her. I felt sorry for her.” Meloni responded immediately in a video, calling it a “complete invention” and saying she was “in total shock” that a U.S. president would treat an ally that way. She added, “There are things that require an immediate response,” and said she was not the one who would ever beg.
Trump escalated further, saying Meloni had repeatedly asked to be photographed with him at the G7 and linking her low popularity in Italy to her refusal to side with the United States on blocking Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Meloni fired back that his friendship had not helped her politically and told him to focus on his own popularity instead. Her foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, delayed a planned visit to Washington because of the clash.
Analysts say Meloni’s hard line is aimed partly at boosting domestic support, ahead of her attempt to lead another right-wing coalition in next year’s elections. IPSOS polling shows 77% of Italians hold a negative view of Trump. Still, her aides say the issue is also one of honor, arguing that “the United States is our strategic ally, but Trump attacked Italy.” Meloni has publicly said the matter is closed and ordered ministers to attend next month’s U.S. Independence Day celebrations at the American embassy in Rome. Opposition figures, however, urged her to leave Trump’s peace council, which she joined after the Gaza ceasefire agreement. The confrontation will be tested again at the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7 and 8, where Meloni and Trump are both expected to attend.
