A renewed conflict between former President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emerged after Trump shared a post on Truth Social that included a mocking image of Meloni with the caption "restraining order needed." This post was made on the eve of a NATO summit that both leaders are scheduled to attend. Meloni has not yet responded to the post, but Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto remarked that "people come and go, but relations must endure," as reported by Euro News. The foreign minister also emphasized that transatlantic relations extend beyond individual comments.
This tension marks a shift from their previously close political relationship, as Meloni was the only European leader invited to Trump's January 2025 inauguration. In June, Trump criticized Meloni for not supporting a U.S. military blockade plan in the Strait of Hormuz and has also made comments about Pope Leo that Meloni found unacceptable. During the G7 Summit in France, Trump claimed that Meloni "begged" him for a photo, a statement she denied, stating that neither she nor Italy ever begs and accused Trump of lying about their interaction. Meloni has also denied the U.S. use of a Sicilian air base for operations related to the Iran conflict, which has added to the strain in their relations.