Italy’s PM Meloni Will No Longer Respond to Provocations from Trump, Says Foreign Minister

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will no longer respond to provocations from former U.S. President Donald Trump. This statement follows a recent incident where Trump posted a photo of Meloni with the caption "restraining order needed," escalating tensions between the two leaders. Meloni was once considered one of Trump’s closest European allies and was the only European leader to attend his January 2025 inauguration. However, relations soured after Meloni criticized Trump for attacking Pope Leo XIV over his condemnation of the Iran war, and for Italy’s refusal to support Washington in the conflict against Tehran.

Last month, Trump claimed in an Italian TV interview that Meloni "begged" to take a photo with him during the G7 summit in France, prompting Meloni to publicly accuse Trump of lying and question his treatment of allies. The conflict reignited just before the NATO summit in Turkey, where Trump posted the controversial image. Tajani told the Italian newspaper La Stampa that Trump "speaks for himself" and described him as a president who enjoys provoking, especially on social media. Tajani emphasized Italy’s commitment to maintaining strong transatlantic relations and said the government would no longer engage with Trump’s inflammatory remarks to avoid damaging alliances.

Defense Minister Guido Crosetto echoed Tajani’s stance, stressing the importance of preserving Italy’s relationship with the U.S. despite political personalities changing. The diplomatic rift became public last month when Trump disparaged Meloni on Italian television, leading Tajani to cancel a planned visit to the U.S., calling Trump’s comments an insult to all of Italy. Meloni responded angrily on social media, denying Trump’s claims and expressing disappointment over his behavior toward allies compared to his leniency toward adversaries. Trump later doubled down in a phone interview, criticizing Meloni’s support for NATO and the Strait of Hormuz, further deepening the diplomatic strain.