Giorgia Meloni dismisses Donald Trump’s remarks as “completely made up”, triggering a diplomatic backlash and fresh strains in US-Italy relations
A fresh diplomatic controversy has erupted between the United States and Italy after US President Donald Trump claimed that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had “begged” him for a photograph during the G7 Summit.
Speaking to Italian television channel La7, Trump said he did not need to speak with Meloni and suggested she was eager to be seen with him during the summit.
“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,” Trump said during the interview.
The remarks quickly sparked a strong response from Italy, with Meloni rejecting the claim outright and accusing Trump of making up the story.
Meloni Calls Trump’s Remarks ‘Completely Made Up’
Responding through a post on X, Meloni said she was stunned by Trump’s comments and described them as entirely false.
“Donald Trump’s statements are completely made up. I’m frankly appalled,” she said.
The Italian Prime Minister also questioned why Trump frequently adopts a confrontational tone toward allies while appearing more accommodating toward countries that challenge Western interests.
“I don’t know why the President of the United States behaves this way with his own allies. However, one thing he must remember: I and Italy never beg,” Meloni added.
Io e l’Italia non imploriamo mai. pic.twitter.com/sTpKlqWB67
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) June 19, 2026
Italian Foreign Minister Cancels Planned US Trip
The dispute escalated further when Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced the cancellation of his planned visit to the United States.
Tajani condemned Trump’s remarks and said they had offended not only Meloni but Italy as a whole.
“The grave and offensive words of President Trump offend the whole of Italy,” he said in a statement.
The foreign minister had been scheduled to travel to the US on June 21 and 22, but the visit has now been called off amid the growing diplomatic friction.
Senior Italian Leaders Rally Behind Meloni
Several senior members of the Italian government also came out in support of Meloni and criticised Trump’s comments.
Giovanbattista Fazzolari, Undersecretary to the Prime Minister’s Office, warned that Trump’s rhetoric risks damaging decades of cooperation between the United States and Europe.
He said the US President was undermining historic transatlantic relations and contributing to growing anti-American sentiment across Europe.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto also rejected Trump’s account, saying he could never imagine Meloni begging anyone for a photograph.
“I don’t believe Giorgia Meloni would ever beg someone for a photo, not even under threat,” Crosetto wrote on X.
Growing Strains In US-Italy Relations
The latest dispute highlights the increasingly strained relationship between Trump and Meloni despite both leaders being regarded as prominent conservative figures.
While Meloni initially sought to strengthen cooperation with the Trump administration during his second term, tensions have surfaced repeatedly in recent months.
Differences over international diplomacy, Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo, and disagreements on broader geopolitical issues have contributed to the cooling relationship.
Trump had earlier criticised Meloni after she objected to his remarks regarding the Pope and the Middle East conflict. In response, he accused the Italian leader of lacking courage.
The latest exchange now threatens to deepen divisions between Washington and one of its key European allies, raising fresh questions about the future of US-Italy relations.
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