President Donald Trump continued his confrontation with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday, insisting she “begged” for a photograph of them collectively at this week’s G7 summit, regardless of denials from Meloni and pushback from Italian ministers.
Trump repeated the declare in a social media publish that the prime minister requested “again and again” for a photograph with him. Meloni mentioned Trump’s declare is “fabricated.”
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is proven in Rome on Might 21, 2024. | President Donald Trump speaks within the Oval Workplace of the White Home in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 14, 2025.
Andreas Solaro, Mandel Ngan/AFP through Getty Photographs
Trump additionally slammed Meloni for her perceived lack of assist for the U.S.’s struggle in Iran.
“She is doing poorly in Italy together with her degree of recognition, probably as a result of she turned down america of America, a Nation that actually loves and protects Italy, when it got here to denying Iran from acquiring or growing a Nuclear Weapon (However so did NATO, for that matter!),” the president mentioned in his publish.
“She would not even allow us to use Italy’s touchdown strips or runways, an awesome logistical inconvenience, and this regardless of the very fact the U.S. contributes tons of of Billions of {Dollars} a 12 months to guard Italy, and different ‘so-called’ NATO Allies,” he added.
The White Home didn’t instantly reply to ABC Information’ request for remark.
Meloni snapped again on Trump together with her personal social media post later within the morning which shared a display shot of the president’s publish together with a message by her written in English.
President Donald Trump, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and French President Emmanuel Macron are on their solution to working session at Resort Royal in the course of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 16, 2026.
Yoan Valat/EPA through Shutterstock
The prime minister referred to as the president’s assaults “unprovoked” and “mindless.”
“As for my reputation, being your good friend has definitely not helped it, nor does it rely upon my relationship with you. My reputation will depend on my capability to defend Italy’s nationwide curiosity, and that’s precisely what I’ve all the time executed,” Meloni mentioned.
The prime minister reiterated Italy’s assist of the U.S. and her nation’s assist of U.S. navy bases in her nation.
“In any case, my reputation is none of your concern. I counsel you deal with yours,” she mentioned to Trump.
Meloni mentioned in her publish in Italian that she wouldn’t revisit the topic.
The feud stems from an interview that Trump gave with an Italian journalist the place he claimed Meloni “begged” to have the picture taken.
On this handout image launched by the Palazzo Chigi Press Workplace, President Donald Trump speaks with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the course of the G7 summit, in Evian, japanese France, on June 17, 2026.
Palazzo Chigi Press Workplace through AFP through Getty Photographs
“She needed a photograph with me so badly,” Trump mentioned within the interview that aired Friday. “I may have skipped it, however I felt sorry for her.”
Meloni went on social media Friday and denied Trump’s claims.
“I do not know why the President of america is behaving this fashion along with his allies; it isn’t the primary time it occurs in spite of everything,” she mentioned in Italian.
“I can solely say that I am sorry he does not have the identical dedication with the enemies of the West, with the enemies of america, with leaderships with which as an alternative he seems to be far more accommodating. However he has to recollect one factor: I and Italy by no means beg,” she added.
Trump’s feedback about Meloni additionally created a commotion in political circles in Italy.
Italian deputy premier and international minister Antonio Tajani mentioned he referred to as off his go to to america deliberate for Sunday and Monday following Trump’s feedback.
“President Trump’s severe and offensive phrases in the direction of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy,” Tajani mentioned in Italian in an X post on Friday.
President Donald Trump speaks with Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz subsequent to Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni throughout a piece lunch as a part of the G7 summit, in Evian, japanese France, on June 16, 2026.
Evelyn Hockstein, Pool through AFP through Getty Photographs
Throughout an occasion on the international ministry in Rome in a while Friday, Tajani added, “nobody is allowed to offend Italy just like the U.S. did.”
Different Italian politicians, together with opposition celebration members, have come out in assist of Meloni whereas additionally arguing this exhibits that being too acquiescent with the U.S. administration is counterproductive.
“I’ve nothing in widespread with Meloni, who boasted about being a bridge (between Trump’s American and the EU), and the Proper. However nobody can deal with Italy this fashion,” Filippo Sensi, a senator for the centre-left Democratic Get together, mentioned in an X post Friday.
-ABC Information’ Phoebe Natanson contributed to this report.
