Trump Claims Italy's Meloni Damaged Ties by Refusing Support in Iran Conflict

Tensions between the United States and Italy escalated sharply over disagreements related to the conflict with Iran and the recent G7 summit in France. U.S. President Donald Trump accused Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of damaging bilateral relations due to her refusal to assist the U.S. military efforts. Trump also claimed Meloni's popularity was declining because of her stance and described their G7 encounter as one where Meloni repeatedly begged for a photo, which he only agreed to out of pity.

Meloni swiftly rejected Trump's accusations in a video posted on social media, calling his statements "completely fabricated" and expressing shock. She emphasized that her popularity stems from defending Italy's national interests, citing her earlier decision to deny U.S. access to Italian military bases as an example. Meloni asserted, "Italy and I never beg," and suggested Trump focus on his own public standing.

In response to the dispute, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled a planned visit to the United States, where he was to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stating that Trump's remarks harmed all of Italy. Additionally, Meloni's close advisor, Giovanbattista Pacolari, openly criticized Washington, accusing Trump of damaging historic U.S.-Europe relations and warning that his approach was making the American administration unpopular across Europe.

Italian media also sided with Meloni, with a prominent right-wing newspaper featuring a headline harshly condemning Trump. This diplomatic rift marks a significant break in relations between Trump and Meloni, who had been considered close allies on issues like sovereignty and strict immigration policies. Their disagreements over Middle East policy, particularly Meloni's defense of Pope Leo XIII against Trump's criticism and her refusal to allow U.S. military use of Italian bases, have transformed ideological differences into an open crisis between the two countries.