Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has publicly responded to remarks made by former President Donald Trump during the G7 Summit in France. Trump claimed in an interview with La7 TV that Meloni 'begged' him for a photo at the summit. In response, Meloni stated that Trump's account was 'completely made up' and expressed astonishment at his comments. She criticized Trump for showing more respect to adversaries than to allies, stating, 'neither I nor Italy ever beg.'
The exchange has led to increased tensions between the U.S. and Italy, with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announcing the cancellation of his planned visit to the U.S. next week, citing Trump's remarks as offensive. Tajani stated on X that Trump's comments 'offend all of Italy.' Another member of Meloni's administration, undersecretary Giovanbattista Fazzolari, also condemned Trump's statements, suggesting they could damage U.S.-European relations.
Prior to this incident, Meloni and Trump were seen as political allies, with Meloni attending Trump's 2025 inauguration. However, their relationship has strained following Trump's criticism of Pope Leo, which Meloni deemed 'unacceptable.'