Trump’s Revenge After Meloni’s No: She Freezes Him on Invented Claims

United States President Donald Trump has launched a fresh attack on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, claiming she begged him for a photograph during the G7 summit in Evian and saying he felt sorry for her, according to Il Giornale.

The extraordinary public confrontation between the two conservative leaders escalated during a telephone call Trump made to the Italian television program L’Aria che tira on La7. The American president immediately steered the conversation toward the Italian prime minister, asking the interviewer how she was doing before referencing their encounter at the G7.

Trump claimed Meloni was probably happy he had spoken to her at the summit, adding he was not obligated to do so. He then delivered a personal jab, stating she had implored him to take a photograph with her and suggesting he could have refused but took pity on her.

The Italian prime minister responded swiftly and forcefully in a video posted on social media. Meloni called Trump’s statements completely fabricated and said she was frankly astonished. She questioned why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his own allies, noting it is not the first time such incidents have occurred. She expressed regret that he does not show the same determination with enemies of the West and the United States, with whom he demonstrates far more accommodation. Italy and I never implore anyone, she declared.

The hostile exchange comes after months of strained relations between Washington and Rome. The public rupture first exploded in mid-April when Trump accused Meloni of hypocrisy over the military crisis with Iran in an interview with Corriere della Sera. The American president charged that Italy had benefited from American oil and protection without contributing to U.S. efforts, stating she wanted to let America do all the work. Trump said he was shocked and disappointed by the premier, adding he thought she had more courage.

At that time, Meloni adopted a pragmatic stance, saying Trump’s words did not come unexpectedly. She had said she anticipated his reaction but believed people should not give up saying what they think even when they disagree. Friendship is made of this, she stated, as is courage. She clarified this did not mean questioning Italy’s historic relationship with the United States, noting that friends help you especially when they tell you they disagree.

Deep Divisions Over Iran, Vatican and Ukraine

Behind the public statements lie increasingly tense relations over profound disagreements on several key issues, as Il Giornale reports. First among these is the war in Iran and the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, with the Trump administration favoring more definitive Italian military involvement in an anti-Iran posture, particularly the deployment of warships and minesweepers.

The most difficult moment came in a complex triangulation involving the Vatican and Meloni’s defense of the Pope after a double attack from the White House. Trump had called the Pontiff weak on foreign policy, while Vice President JD Vance criticized Pope Leo XIV, urging him to be careful when speaking about theology and to stick to moral questions. The Italian premier judged those words unacceptable and confirmed Italy’s solidarity with the Pope. The White House occupant fired back, questioning what was unacceptable and accusing Meloni of not caring if Iran obtained a nuclear weapon that could blow up Italy in two minutes.

In subsequent weeks the tone lowered and between May and early June there was substantial diplomatic silence. Diplomatic channels may have worked behind the scenes to achieve a thaw along the Rome-Washington axis before the G7 summit in Evian.

Less than 24 hours after the G7 encounter, Trump delivered his barb on La7, extending his criticism to the entire European continent. He claimed Europeans have gotten everything wrong on energy and immigration, warning that if these problems are not resolved, Europe will never be the same again. He also attacked green policies, calling wind turbines a failure.

On Ukraine, the American president distanced himself from the dossier concerning Kiev’s potential accession to the European Union and possible consequences for relations with Vladimir Putin. Trump said he is not involved in that matter, stating the United States only wants peace.

With information from Il Giornale