Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has canceled a planned trip to the United States after President Donald Trump claimed in an interview with Italian TV that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had "begged" him for a photo together.

Meloni dismissed the remarks as "completely made up" and told her seven million Instagram followers: "Neither I nor Italy ever beg." She expressed regret that Trump does not show the same determination toward the enemies of the West.

The incident marks a further deterioration in ties between the two leaders, which have frayed since Trump's decision to go to war with Iran. Meloni has been outspoken in her opposition, and Trump earlier called her "not courageous."

Italian President Sergio Mattarella immediately called Meloni to offer support. Opposition senator Filippo Sensi said no one has the right to speak to an Italian prime minister in such an arrogant tone.

Lucio Malan, a senator from Meloni's party, suggested that Trump's words damage his own image and that G7 footage shows a very different dynamic. Government ally Matteo Salvini said: "Whoever attacks Giorgia, attacks all of us."

Source: www.bbc.com