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 submit that the prime minister requested “time 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 by way of Getty Pictures
Trump additionally slammed Meloni for her perceived lack of assist for the U.S.’s battle in Iran.Â
“She is doing poorly in Italy along with her stage of recognition, presumably as a result of she turned down america of America, a Nation that really loves and protects Italy, when it got here to denying Iran from acquiring or creating a Nuclear Weapon (However so did NATO, for that matter!),” the president mentioned in his submit.
“She would not even allow us to use Italy’s touchdown strips or runways, an ideal logistical inconvenience, and this regardless of the very fact the U.S. contributes lots of of Billions of {Dollars} a yr to guard Italy, and different ‘so-called’ NATO Allies,” he added.Â
The White Home didn’t instantly reply to ABC Information’ request for remark.
Meloni snapped again on Trump along with her personal social media submit later within the morning which shared a display screen shot of the president’s submit 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 technique to working session at Resort Royal throughout the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 16, 2026.
Yoan Valat/EPA by way of Shutterstock
The prime minister referred to as the president’s assaults “unprovoked” and “mindless.”
“As for my reputation, being your buddy has definitely not helped it, nor does it rely upon my relationship with you. My reputation depends upon my potential to defend Italy’s nationwide curiosity, and that’s precisely what I’ve all the time performed,” 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 concentrate on yours,” she mentioned to Trump.
Meloni mentioned in her submit 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 photograph taken.
On this handout image launched by the Palazzo Chigi Press Workplace, President Donald Trump speaks with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni throughout the G7 summit, in Evian, japanese France, on June 17, 2026.
Palazzo Chigi Press Workplace by way of AFP by way of Getty Pictures
“She wished 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 together with his allies; it is not 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 willpower with the enemies of the West, with the enemies of america, with leaderships with which as a substitute 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.Â
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 submit 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 by way of AFP by way of Getty Pictures
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 occasion 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 frequent 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 Occasion, mentioned in an X submit Friday.
-ABC Information’ Phoebe Natanson contributed to this report.
