Italy’s top diplomat nixes US trip after Meloni says Trump fabricated story | Donald Trump News
Diplomatic Tensions Rise Between Trump and Meloni Over Photo Incident
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has publicly rebuffed claims made by U.S. President Donald Trump, who alleged that she “begged” him for a photograph during the recent Group of Seven (G7) summit in France. The disputed remarks have intensified diplomatic tensions, leading Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to cancel an upcoming visit to the United States.
In an interview with the Italian network La7, Trump remarked, “She begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her.” The network only aired a dubbed version of the interview, not the original English audio.
In a video response released on Friday, Meloni criticized Trump’s statements as “completely fabricated” and expressed her astonishment at his behavior towards an ally. She said, “I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his own allies. After all, this isn’t the first time this has happened.”
Meloni, the leader of a far-right party known for its anti-immigrant stance, had previously been regarded as a supportive counterpart to Trump. The two leaders met at his Mar-a-Lago estate after his 2024 election victory and she attended his inauguration in January 2025. However, their relationship has soured over various issues, including support for Ukraine and Trump’s controversial comments on other global matters.
In her video, Meloni stated it was regrettable that Trump displayed “the same resolve toward the enemies of the West” that he did towards her. She emphasized, “Italy and I do not beg.”
Following Meloni’s remarks, Foreign Minister Tajani announced the cancellation of his planned trip to Miami, where he was set to attend a business forum and meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Tajani labeled Trump’s statements as “serious and offensive.”
Other Italian officials joined in the criticism. Justice Minister Carlo Nordio suggested that Trump’s comments tarnished the legacy of American soldiers who fought during World War II, saying, “The thousands of crosses marking the graves of American soldiers who died to free us from Nazi-Fascist dictatorship did not deserve such a painful blow to our fraternal ties.”
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto also refuted the idea that Meloni would ever beg for a photo, stating, “Jokes of this kind do no good to anyone: neither to the USA, nor to Italy, nor to the alliance.”
The White House has yet to respond to the escalating situation.
