Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni fired back at President Trump Friday after he claimed she had “begged” him for a photo at the G7 summit — calling his statements “completely fabricated” and declaring pointedly: “Italy and I do not beg.”
The blowup is the latest sign that Trump’s alliances in Europe are cracking. Ms. Meloni was once considered one of his closest friends abroad — the lone EU leader to attend his 2025 inauguration — but relations have since frayed over his war in Iran, tariffs on Europe and his stance on Ukraine.
Trump made the remarks in an interview on Italy’s La7 network, saying he felt sorry for Ms. Meloni and agreed to the photo as a favor.
Ms. Meloni wasn’t having it. “I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his own allies,” she said in a video response. “After all, this isn’t the first time this has happened.”
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelled a planned weekend trip to Miami — where he was set to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio — calling Trump’s comments “serious and offensive.”
Solidarity poured in from across Italy’s political spectrum, including from Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who called it an “attack” he couldn’t qualify.
The White House did not return a request for comment.
Read more:
• Meloni slams Trump’s claim she ’begged’ for photo with him as Italy’s top diplomat cancels U.S. trip
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