Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has strongly criticized US President Donald Trump’s assertion that she pleaded with him to have a photo taken together during the recent G7 summit.
Meloni expressed her disbelief at Trump’s claims, labeling them as entirely fabricated and affirming, “Neither I nor Italy ever resort to begging.”
During an interview with Italian TV channel La7, Trump alleged, “She begged me to take a picture with her. She was so eager for a photo with me. I wouldn’t have agreed, but I felt sorry for her.”
He further remarked, “She’s probably pleased I engaged with her. I wasn’t obligated to communicate with her.” These comments followed his inquiry to a journalist about the Italian prime minister. The broadcaster shared a dubbed version of the conversation online, not the original English audio.
Video footage from the summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, depicted Meloni and Trump engaged in conversation, seated adjacent to each other on a small sofa.
In response to the president’s remarks, Meloni promptly expressed her disapproval in a video shared on social media.
“Donald Trump’s statements are entirely false. I am genuinely surprised. I don’t understand why the President of the United States behaves this way towards his allies; this is not the first instance,” she remarked.
“I can only say it is disheartening that he fails to exhibit the same resolve towards the adversaries of the West and the United States, whom he treats with much more leniency,” she added. “One thing he should remember is that neither I nor Italy ever plead.”
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani abruptly canceled a scheduled trip to the United States, denouncing Trump’s allegations as “grave and offensive” towards Meloni and Italy as a whole. The Foreign Ministry later announced the cancellation of the business and scientific forum in Miami that Tajani was set to attend.
The relationship between Trump and Meloni, previously viewed as close allies in Europe, has deteriorated over his involvement in Iran, which Meloni has deemed unlawful. Disagreements over Trump’s tariffs and strong support for Israel amid its conflict in Gaza have also fueled tensions.
In an interview with the Italian daily Corriere della Sera in April, Trump criticized Meloni for not supporting the US-Israeli campaign against Iran. At that time, Meloni did not issue a public response.
During the same month, Meloni defended Pope Leo XIV when Trump criticized the pontiff. She condemned Trump’s remarks about the Pope as “unacceptable,” emphasizing that as the leader of the Catholic Church, it is appropriate for the pontiff to “condemn all forms of war.” She had refrained from criticizing Trump’s previous remarks about the Pope.
Lorenzo Castellani, a political expert at Rome’s Luiss Guido Carli University, told The Associated Press, “In a way, this incident was a favor to Giorgia Meloni, as she was previously seen as a kind of follower of Trump in Europe.”
