Trump-Meloni Clash Erupts After G7 Remarks

A dispute broke out between U.S. President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after their meeting at the G7 summit. In an interview with Italy's La7, Trump claimed Meloni had asked to take a photo with him and said, “She was begging me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn't have taken a picture, but I felt sorry for her.”

Meloni rejected the account in an Instagram video, calling Trump's remarks “completely fabricated.” She said, “Italy and I never beg,” and added that she was shocked Trump was treating an ally this way. She said this was not the first time he had acted like this, and complained that he showed more leniency toward enemies of the West and of the United States than toward allies.

Trump kept up the attack in an NBC interview, saying Meloni “was a great fan,” but that he did not want her as a fan because she was not present with the NATO group regarding the Strait of Hormuz. The exchange also drew in Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who condemned Trump's comments as serious and offensive to Meloni and to Italy.

Tajani said on X that the remarks “harm all of Italy” and announced he was canceling his planned trip to the United States, scheduled for June 21 to 22.