A diplomatic dispute between US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has intensified, with Italy's top diplomat canceling a planned visit to the United States. The row stems from Trump's claim that Meloni 'begged' him for a photograph during the G7 summit in France.
In an interview with Italy's La7 network, Trump said: 'She's probably happy I talked to her. I didn't have to talk to her. 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 broadcaster aired a dubbed Italian version, not the original English.
On Friday, Meloni released a video response, calling Trump's statements 'completely fabricated.' 'I am frankly stunned,' 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, a far-right leader who campaigned on an anti-immigrant platform, was once seen as one of Trump's most supportive European counterparts. She met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago after his 2024 victory and attended his January 2025 inauguration. However, the two have diverged on issues including Ukraine support, the US-Israeli war with Iran, Trump's threats to seize Greenland, and his criticism of Pope Leo.
In her video, Meloni said it was a 'shame' Trump did not show 'the same resolve toward the enemies of the West' as he did against her, accusing him of being 'much more accommodating' to foes than allies. 'But there's one thing he must remember: Italy and I do not beg,' she added.
Shortly after, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled a weekend trip to the US, where he was to attend a business forum in Miami and meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He called Trump's remarks 'serious and offensive.' Justice Minister Carlo Nordio suggested the comments dishonored US soldiers who died in WWII, while Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said Meloni would never beg 'not even under threat.' The White House has not yet responded.
Source: www.aljazeera.com