Italy’s top diplomat cancels US trip as Meloni slams Trump’s claim she ‘begged’ for a photo with him
- On Friday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni rejected President Donald Trump's claim that she "begged" him for a photo at the G7 summit in Evian, France, calling his assertion "completely fabricated."
- Relations between the two leaders have cooled in recent months following disagreements over the U.S. war in Iran and Trump's earlier criticism of Pope Leo XIV, which Meloni labeled unacceptable.
- Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled his planned U.S. visit on Friday, calling Trump's remarks "serious and offensive" to Italy and prompting broad government solidarity behind Meloni.
- Government officials including Transport Minister Matteo Salvini and Justice Minister Carlo Nordio rallied behind Meloni, with Nordio referencing American soldiers' sacrifice in World War II to underscore damage to U.S.-Italy relations.
- Top adviser Giovanbattista Fazzolari warned that Trump's repeated outbursts are damaging historic transatlantic relations, making the United States increasingly unpopular across Europe.
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Trump and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni Feud Over Photo
President Donald Trump greets Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during summit to support ending the more than two-year Israel-Hamas war in Gaza after a breakthrough ceasefire deal, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on Oct. 13, 2025. —Evan Vucci—Pool/AP PhotoGiorgia Meloni, Italy’s Prime Minister once dubbed “Europe’s Trump Whisperer,” has become embroiled in a row with the U.S. President over accusations to do with a photo taken together.Meloni’s l…
Trump said Italy’s prime minister ‘begged’ for a photo. She says that’s false.
Italy’s right-wing prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, was labeled Europe’s “Trump whisperer,” but the war in Iran turned their friendship into a liability for her. Source link : https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/06/19/trump-said-italys-prime-minister-begged-photo-she-says-thats-false/ Author : Anthony Faiola, Stefano Pitrelli Publish date : 2026-06-20 15:00:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
Italy’s Giorgia Meloni fires back at Trump over G7 photo claim
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s fiery spat with US President Donald Trump over his claims that she “begged” him for a photo at the G7 reflects her political calculation that being associated with Trump is now a liability, analysts said. Meloni said Trump fabricated the incident, and criticized his treatment of Washington’s allies. Firing back at his barb about her waning popularity, she said, “Being your friend… has not helped it.” The e…
On the 17th, the Italian Prime Minister's office released a photo showing U.S. President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni having a close conversation. The scene showed the two leaders sitting side by side, smiling and chatting, at a hotel in Evian-les-Bains, France, where the G7 summit was being held.
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