Meloni denies begging Trump for photo, cancels US visit after feud
Story Timeline
17 hours · 4 summary articles
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni forcefully denied on Saturday that she had begged US President Donald Trump for a photograph at the G7 summit in Evian, calling his claim “completely made up” as Rome escalated a diplomatic row by cancelling a planned visit to Washington.
Speaking in a video statement released on Friday and reiterated on Saturday, Meloni said, “Neither I nor Italy ever beg,” rejecting Trump’s assertion that she had pleaded for a picture with him during the June summit. The Italian premier’s remarks came after Trump doubled down on his feud with Rome, asserting in a post on social media that Meloni had been “a big fan” before turning critical. “She was a big fan,” Trump wrote, adding that he no longer wished to engage with her.
The dispute has now spilled into concrete diplomatic consequences. Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, cancelled his planned trip to the United States on Friday, a move widely interpreted as a protest against Trump’s remarks. The cancellation was confirmed by multiple outlets and follows Meloni’s own rejection of the president’s version of events.
Meloni’s office issued a further statement on Saturday morning, saying the prime minister had never asked for a photograph and that Trump’s account was “totally invented.” The Italian government has framed the episode as an attempt to undermine Meloni’s standing ahead of domestic political challenges, including a contentious budget vote next month. Analysts note that the spat risks complicating transatlantic relations at a time when Italy is seeking to balance its alliances between Washington and Brussels.
Trump’s initial claim, made on Thursday, sparked immediate backlash in Rome. Meloni responded within hours, calling the remarks “false and unfounded,” while Tajani announced the cancellation of his Washington visit, originally scheduled for next week. The foreign ministry in Rome described the episode as “unacceptable interference” in Italian sovereignty.
The escalation comes amid broader tensions between the Trump administration and European allies, particularly over trade and defence policy. Meloni, a prominent figure in the EU’s right-wing coalition, has sought to position Italy as a bridge between Washington and Brussels, but the latest row threatens to erode that role. With no immediate signs of de-escalation, diplomats in Rome and Washington are bracing for further fallout in the coming days.
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