Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reacted to remarks made by former President Donald Trump, who suggested she was eager to take a photo with him at the G7 summit in France. Meloni described Trump's comments as 'made up' and stated, 'Neither I nor Italy ever beg.' Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled a planned trip to Washington in protest of Trump's statements, which he deemed 'grave and offensive.'
Trump's comments were made during an interview with Italian television, where he indicated that he felt sorry for Meloni and agreed to the photo request. Meloni responded from a European Union summit in Brussels, expressing disappointment in Trump's behavior towards allies.
The exchange has raised tensions between the U.S. and Italy, with Trump's previous criticisms of Meloni and her political stance on various issues, including the Iran war. Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto also defended Meloni, stating he could not imagine her begging for a photo. Meloni later emphasized that there were no lingering tensions between her and Trump during their meeting at the summit, noting that both leaders have strong personalities and understand each other's perspectives. The White House has not commented on the situation.