The relationship between U.S. President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni unexpectedly escalated into a public spat. The trigger was the American leader's statements about a meeting at the G7 summit, but soon the dispute touched on more serious issues — from the popularity of politicians to military cooperation between the countries.
The conflict began after Donald Trump stated in an interview with an Italian television channel that Giorgia Meloni allegedly insisted on having a photo taken with him during the G7 summit in France, as reported by NOS.
The Prime Minister of Italy quickly denied these claims, calling them completely fabricated. In a published video address, she emphasized that such a situation never occurred.
However, the story did not end there. A few days later, Trump returned to the topic in a message on his platform Truth Social. The U.S. President claimed that Meloni had allegedly repeatedly requested joint photographs and also questioned her popularity in Italy.
Meanwhile, data from opinion polls indicate the opposite: Meloni's party continues to be one of the most popular political forces in the country.
Trump's dissatisfaction was further fueled by Rome's position on the military conflict surrounding Iran. The American leader criticized Italy's refusal to allow the U.S. to use one of its military bases in Sicily for operations related to the Middle Eastern crisis.
In response, Giorgia Meloni published a stern statement on social media. She called the American President's accusations nonsensical and emphasized that her political support is determined by how successfully she defends Italy's interests.
"My popularity is not your concern. I suggest you focus on your own," stated the head of the Italian government.
Earlier, Meloni expressed her bewilderment at the behavior of the American President and emphasized that Italy "never begs anyone for anything."
The public spat has already led to diplomatic consequences. According to Italian media reports, the visit of the Italian Foreign Minister to the United States has been canceled. Additionally, representatives of the Italian government may refuse to participate in events at the American embassy marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.
Meloni has the support of Italian President Sergio Mattarella, representatives from both the ruling coalition and the opposition, as well as several European leaders. The Italian press has also reacted sharply to statements from Washington.
Despite the conflict, experts note that both sides will find it difficult to allow the dispute to escalate into a serious crisis. The U.S. remains one of Italy's key trading partners, and important U.S. military infrastructure is located in the country.
The personal conflict between Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni has unexpectedly turned into a diplomatic issue between NATO allies. Despite the sharp statements from both sides, Rome and Washington are interested in maintaining their partnership, so the further development of the situation will likely depend on the work of diplomats rather than loud public statements.
