Donald Trump escalated a bitter diplomatic feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday, doubling down on his claim that she repeatedly begged him for a photograph at the G7 summit in Evian, France, while Meloni dismissed the accusation as “completely made up” and accused the U.S. president of pandering to the West’s enemies.

Speaking to Italy’s La7 broadcaster on Saturday, Trump reiterated that Meloni asked “over and over” for a picture during the summit, saying he agreed only because he felt sorry for her . The U.S. president framed the dispute as part of broader tensions over Iran and NATO, suggesting the clash reflected deeper policy disagreements rather than a personal spat . In a social media post on Truth Social, Trump went further, asserting that Meloni’s popularity in Italy was declining because she had refused to align with Washington, a claim that drew an immediate rebuke from Rome .

Meloni fired back on Friday, calling Trump’s narrative “made up” and accusing him of undermining Western unity. “Neither I nor Italy ever beg,” she told reporters, adding that the allegations were “completely fabricated” . The Italian prime minister also accused Trump of “pandering to the West’s enemies,” a thinly veiled reference to his recent criticism of NATO allies and his stance on Iran . The escalation prompted Rome to cancel a planned visit by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to Washington, deepening the rift between the two allies .

The spat has exposed fractures within the transatlantic alliance, with analysts warning that the personal animosity between Trump and Meloni—once seen as ideological allies—could undermine cooperation on critical issues such as Ukraine, Iran, and defense spending. Trump’s refusal to back down, even as Meloni’s government distances itself from Washington, suggests the dispute is far from over. “I’m not interested in repairing relations,” Trump told Politico, signaling that the fallout from the G7 photo controversy may have lasting consequences for U.S.-Italy ties .

As the diplomatic row intensifies, both leaders appear dug into their positions, with Meloni’s popularity at home seemingly unaffected by Trump’s attacks and the Italian government showing no signs of backing down. The episode underscores the fragility of alliances in an era of shifting geopolitical alignments, where personal clashes at the highest levels can ripple across continents.

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Articles

U.S. President Donald Trump stuck hard to his claim that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni begged for a photo with him at the G7 summit earlier this week, adding that he isnt interested in repairing relations between the two leaders.

bluesky bot · about 2 hours ago

US-Bundesstaat: Wie Kalifornien Trump einfach weglächelt – und was wir davon lernen können In Deutschland starren wir auf Donald Trump wie das Kaninchen auf die Schlange. In Kalifornien nehmen die Menschen das ganze Schlamassel viel gelassener. Könnte das nicht auch ein Modell für uns sein?

faz · about 2 hours ago

Italien und USA: Schatzi, schenk mir ein Foto US-Präsident Trump und Italiens Ministerpräsidentin Meloni, einst politische Freunde, streiten über „komplett erfundene Behauptungen. Endet hier ihre besondere politische Freundschaft?

sueddeutsche · about 2 hours ago

Italys Meloni says Trump totally invented story that she begged him for photo

gdeltproject.org · about 2 hours ago

Meloni responde a Trump: "Mi popularidad no es asunto tuyo, sugiero te centres en la tuya" La primera ministra italiana califica de "absurdos" las nuevas críticas del mandatario de EEUU y asegura que "ser su amiga no ha ayudado en absoluto a su popularidad" Trump se mofa de Meloni y el Gobierno de Italia suspende su visita a Washington La primera ministra italiana, Giorgia Melon, ha vuelto a responder este sábado al presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump: Mi popularidad no es asunto tuyo, sugiero que te centres en la tuya, después de que el mandatario hubiera de nuevo cargado contra ella diciendo que su popularidad está por los suelos. Estos ataques constantes e injustificados son absurdos. En cuanto a mi popularidad, ser tu amiga no la ha ayudado en absoluto, ni depende de mi relación contigo. Mi popularidad depende de mi capacidad para defender el interés nacional de Italia, y eso es precisamente lo que siempre he hecho, ha escrito Meloni en un post en inglés en Instagram. Y ha añadido: Eso mismo hice con respecto a las bases militares estadounidenses en Italia. Su uso se rige por acuerdos que siempre hemos respetado y que no pueden violarse mientras yo sea primera ministra. Italia sigue siendo una nación soberana. En cualquier caso, mi popularidad no es asunto tuyo. Sugiero que te centres en la tuya, ha cerrado. En otro post posterior, ya en italiano, asegura que no volverá sobre el tema porque sigo creyendo en la unidad de Occidente y no creo que esto sea un espectáculo a la altura de nuestra tarea. Trump había vuelto a hablar de Meloni e insistió en que esta pidió una y otra vez hacerse una foto con él durante la Cumbre del G7 en Francia, situación que la primera ministra negó el viernes y manifestó que estaba atónita por estas afirmaciones inventadas. Su popularidad en Italia está por los suelos, posiblemente porque le dio la espalda a Estados Unidos —un país que realmente ama y protege a Italia— al negarse a impedir que Irán obtuviera o desarrollara un arma nuclear (¡aunque la OTAN hizo lo mismo, dicho sea de paso!), publicó Trump en su red social Truth. El presidente de EEUU reprochó este sábado a Meloni que no permitiera utilizar las pistas de aterrizaje italianas —lo que supuso un gran inconveniente logístico—, a pesar de que Estados Unidos aporta cientos de miles de millones de dólares al año para proteger a Italia y a otros supuestos aliados de la OTAN. El inquilino de la Casa Blanca considera que la primera ministra italiana busca un acercamiento con él por sus bajos índices de popularidad: Ahora, tras la derrota militar de Irán a manos de Estados Unidos, ella quiere volver a ser amiga para mejorar sus cifras. ¡¡¡No, gracias!!! Presidente DJT. Tras la entrevista que Trump concedió al canal italiano La 7 en el que aseguró haberse sacado una foto con la primera ministra italiana por pena ya que esta le habría suplicado hacerla, Meloni publicó un vídeo en sus redes sociales en el que subrayó: Ni yo ni Italia suplicamos nunca. La crisis diplomática y el cruce de declaraciones continuaron después con Trump que comentó después en un programa de televisión que no la quiere como admiradora por no haber estado como aliada en la guerra con Irán. La comentarios de Trump resultaron en la cancelación de un viaje del ministro italiano de Asuntos Exteriores, Antonio Tajani, para este domingo y lunes a Miami para el Foro Empresarial y Científico.

eldiario.es · about 2 hours ago

Giorgia Meloni se dit « consternée » par des propos de Donald Trump, le ministre des affaires étrangères italien annule une visite aux Etats-Unis Dans un post sur Truth Social, le président américain a répété, samedi, que la première ministre italienne lui avait demandé « encore et encore » de prendre une photo avec lui au G7. Cette dernière évoque des déclarations « totalement inventées ».

le monde · about 2 hours ago

Italian PM denies Trumps claim she begged for photo Giorgia Meloni forcefully rejected Donald Trumps assertion that she pleaded for a photograph at the recent G7 summit, calling the remarks completely made up as diplomatic tensions prompted Romes foreign minister to cancel a planned visit to Washington.

yenisafak · about 2 hours ago

Trump insistă că Meloni i-ar fi cerut „din nou şi din nou să se pozeze cu el la summitul G7: „Popularitatea ei e la pământ Preşedintele american Donald Trump a insistat sâmbătă că şefa guvernului italian, Giorgia Meloni, i-a cerut „din nou şi din nou să facă o fotografie ei doi la summitul G7, afirmaţie venită în urma conflictului diplomatic pe care l-a provocat între Roma şi Washington după ce el a susţinut că Meloni l-a „implorat să facă acea poză, lucru negat de Meloni, relatează agenţiile AFP şi EFE.

digi24 · about 2 hours ago

Trump slår tillbaka mot Meloni: Nej tack Bråket mellan USA:s president och Italiens premiärminister fortsätter. I ett inlägg skriver Donald Trump att Giorgia Meloni är impopulär på hemmaplan. Italienskan svarar med att presidenten borde fokusera på sin egen popularitet.

dagens nyheter · about 2 hours ago

Trump greift Meloni erneut wegen Iran-Kurs an US-Präsident Donald Trump wirft der italienischen Ministerpräsidentin Giorgia Meloni mangelnde Unterstützung vor.

die presse · about 2 hours ago

Trump says Italys Meloni asked over and over for a photo with him as diplomatic spat escalates US President Donald Trump turned up the heat on a diplomatic row with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday, accusing her of repeatedly seeking a photograph with him at the G7 summit and blaming the clash between the two heads of state on tensions over Iran and NATO.

france24 · about 2 hours ago

Meloni slams Trumps claim she begged for a photo with him

gdeltproject.org · about 2 hours ago

Meloni accuses Trump of pandering to wests enemies Italian premier on offensive after US president claimed she begged for a photo with him

financial times · about 2 hours ago

Gigiorgia dopo Giuseppi: Trump sbaglia il nome di Meloni nel post in cui lattacca Il presidente Usa Donald Trump, nel post pubblicato sul suo canale social Truth in cui ha attaccato la premier Giorgia Meloni, affermando che è in calo di popolarità e che ha voltato le spalle agli Usa sullIran, è inciampato sul nome della leader, scrivendo Gigiorgia. Poi dopo poco ha corretto il testo. Non è la […] Larticolo Gigiorgia dopo Giuseppi: Trump sbaglia il nome di Meloni nel post in cui lattacca proviene da Il Fatto Quotidiano.

il fatto quotidiano · about 2 hours ago

Italys PM Meloni accuses Trump of totally fabricating story that she begged him for photo – Ya Libnan

gdeltproject.org · about 2 hours ago

Trump escalates spat with Italys Meloni over G7 photo claim The US president told Italian broadcaster La7 that Giorgia Meloni begged him for a picture at this weeks G7 summit in France, saying he agreed only because he felt sorry for her. Meloni angrily denied the claim, calling it made up.

le monde · about 2 hours ago

„Sie bat wieder und wieder um ein Foto mit mir – Trump will nicht mehr Melonis Freund sein Meloni hätte immer wieder um ein Foto mit ihm gebettelt, schreibt Donald Trump über Italiens Regierungschefin nach dem G-7-Gipfel. Sie wolle jetzt wieder seine Freundin sein – doch er will nicht mehr.

welt.de · about 2 hours ago

I Never Beg for the Picture: Italian PM Meloni hits back after Trumps Controversial G7 Summit claim

gdeltproject.org · about 2 hours ago

Meloni tells Trump to focus on your own popularity as row between leaders escalates The US president earlier questioned Melonis popularity after suggesting she "begged" for a photo at G7 summit

bbc · about 3 hours ago

Trump hits out at Italys Meloni after pushback on G7 photo claim Trump said the Italian leader asked "over and over" for a picture at G7, after she said the US president "made-up" a story that she "begged" for a photo.

bbc · about 3 hours ago

Meloni, Trump trade barbs in escalating spat over G7 photo The two leaders, once politically close, have been bickering since the U.S. president claimed the Italian leader begged him for a photo at this weeks G7 summit.

politico.eu · about 3 hours ago

Trump insiste: Meloni vuol tornare amica perché la sua popolarità è bassa. La premier replica: Pensa alla tua Lo scontro tra Donald Trump e Giorgia Meloni ha un secondo tempo. Dopo il botta e risposta di venerdì, il presidente degli Usa torna a caricare a testa bassa contro la premier, attacca venerdì in unintervista con La7 nella quale aveva spiegato di aver provato pena per la richiesta insistente di una foto. E innesca […] Larticolo Trump insiste: Meloni vuol tornare amica perché la sua popolarità è bassa. La premier replica: Pensa alla tua proviene da Il Fatto Quotidiano.

il fatto quotidiano · about 3 hours ago