Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani says he is cancelling planned visit to the United States next week
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni accused her one-time close ally. Donald Trump, on Friday of fabricating a story after the US president saidshe had "begged" him for a photo at a G7 summit.
Meloni said she was “astonished” by the comments. calling them “completely made up.” She also criticised Trump for showing greater deference to adversaries of the West than to long-standing allies.
The exchange marks a sharp deterioration in ties. coming days after signs at the G7 summit suggested the two right-wing leaders had steadied relations following earlier tensions over the Iran conflict.
Video from the summit showed Meloni. Trump seated side-by-side in conversation, but Trump later suggested he was merely indulging her by speaking with her.
“She’s probably happy I talked to her. I didn’t have to talk to her,” Trump was quoted as saying byLa7 TVin an interview. “She begged me to take a picture with me so badly… I felt sorry for her.”
The channel did not release the original audio, only a dubbed version.
Meloni responded sharply, saying: “Donald Trump’s statements are completely made up. I am frankly astonished.”
“I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves like this towards his allies: it is not the first time,” she added.
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“It is disappointing that he does not show the same determination with the enemies of the West,” she said. “Neither I nor Italy ever beg.”
FM cancelled US visit
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on X that Trump’s comments were “serious. offensive” and “offend the whole of Italy,” confirming the cancellation of his US trip.
Le gravi e offensive parole del Presidente Trump nei confronti del Presidente del Consiglio Giorgia Meloni offendono tutta l’Italia. Per questo motivo ho deciso di annullare la mia visita negli Stati Uniti prevista per i prossimi 21 e 22 giugno.
"The grave and offensive words of President Trump.. offend the whole of Italy," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who had been due to visit the US on June 21. 22, said on X.
Meloni said she was "stunned" by Trump's comments to Italian channel La7 in which, according to a transcript provided by the network, he said Meloni "wanted a picture with me so badly" at the G7 summit. he agreed only because he "felt sorry for her".
He also suggested that Meloni might be "happy that I talked to her, I didn't have to talk to her".
Meloni called what Trump said "made up", adding: "Neither I nor Italy ever beg."
"I don't know why the president of the US behaves this way with his own allies," the far-right leader wrote on X.
"I can only say that it's a pity he doesn't show the same determination with enemies of the West. with enemies of the US, with leaders with whom, instead, he is far more accommodating," she said.
At the end of the G7 summit in Evian on Wednesday, Meloni had spoken of a "very positive climate". "no friction" between Trump and other world leaders present.
Meloni has positioned herself as a bridge between Europe. the Trump administration, but the relationship came under strain during theMiddle East war.
Trump turned on Meloni in April aftershe defended Pope Leo XIV from the US president's harsh criticismof the pontiff's anti-war views.
Top Meloni ally criticises Trump
Giovanbattista Fazzolari, a close Meloni ally, said it was unclear whether Trump was acting intentionally or out of ineptitude,. accused him of damaging US–Europe relations.
“With his inappropriate outbursts, he has managed to make the United States unpopular across the European continent,” he said.
Meloni had previously been a strong supporter of Trump. attended his 2025 inauguration, though tensions have risen over recent geopolitical disputes.
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