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U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his public feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Truth Social, claiming she repeatedly asked for a photo with him at the G7 summit, even though the Italian PM flatly refused the claim earlier.
Trump suggested her declining popularity stems from Italy's refusal to support U.S. efforts against Iran's nuclear program.
"Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked, over and over, for a picture with me during the G-7 meeting in France," Trump wrote.
"She is doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity, possibly because she turned down the United States of America, a Country that truly loves and protects Italy, when it came to denying Iran from obtaining or developing a Nuclear Weapon (But so did NATO, for that matter!)."
Trump said Italy had refused to let the U.S. use its landing strips or runways during the Iran conflict, calling it "a great logistical inconvenience," and noted that the U.S. contributes "hundreds of Billions of Dollars a year" to protect Italy and other NATO allies.
"Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her 'numbers up.' No thanks!!!" Trump wrote.
In a separate post, Trump aimed at Democrats over their assessment of the war's outcome.
"Funny how the Dumocrats like to say that Iran is in a stronger position today than they were three months ago, despite the fact that they have been defeated militarily, with no Navy or Air Force. That's why I call them the Dumocrats!!!" he wrote.
The posts followed Trump's remarks in a phone interview with Italian network La7, in which he claimed Meloni had "begged" him for a photo at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, and that he agreed only because he "felt sorry for her."
He also suggested Meloni was likely relieved their interactions had been limited.
Meloni responded in a video posted to social media.
"Donald Trump's statements are 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."
"I can only say that it's a shame he doesn't show the same resolve toward the enemies of the West, toward the enemies of the United States, toward leaders with whom he, on the other hand, is much more accommodating," Meloni said.
"But there's one thing he must remember: Italy and I do not beg," she added.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called Trump's remarks "serious and offensive" toward Meloni and all of Italy and canceled a planned visit to the United States scheduled for June 21 and 22.
The U.S. State Department confirmed that a business and scientific forum Tajani was to attend in Miami alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio had also been cancelled.
Justice Minister Carlo Nordio invoked the sacrifice of American troops in World War II in criticizing Trump's remarks. "The thousands of crosses marking the graves of American soldiers who died to free us from Nazi-Fascist dictatorship did not deserve such a painful blow to our fraternal ties," Nordio wrote on X.
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said he did not believe Meloni would ever beg for a photo, "not even under threat."
Transport Minister Matteo Salvini wrote: "Whoever attacks @GiorgiaMeloni attacks all of us."
Italian President Sergio Mattarella also called Meloni in a show of support.
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken criticized Trump directly on X. "The insults from the White House need to stop. It divides the West and achieves nothing," he wrote.
"And they need to leave @GiorgiaMeloni alone. Enough!"
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed solidarity with Meloni on the sidelines of a European Council summit in Brussels.
"About Meloni, first and foremost, all my solidarity," he told reporters.
"I really don't know how to qualify" the attack, he said, describing it as neither political nor personal.
Trump and Meloni had previously maintained a close relationship.
Meloni was the only European head of state invited to Trump's second-term inauguration and visited him at Mar-a-Lago weeks beforehand, calling the meeting an opportunity to confirm a relationship that "promises to be very solid."
Trump had repeatedly praised Meloni in the months that followed, calling her "fantastic," "incredible," and a friend.
The relationship deteriorated amid disagreements over Ukraine, U.S. tariffs on Europe, and, more recently, the Iran war.
Trump turned on Meloni in April after she defended Pope Leo XIV against Trump's criticism of the pontiff's anti-war views and after Italy declined to back the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, which Meloni has described as illegal.
"I'm shocked at her. I thought she had courage, but I was wrong," Trump told Corriere della Sera at the time, accusing Meloni of failing to help the U.S. through NATO.
He has also threatened to withdraw U.S. troops from Italy, saying Rome "has not been of any help to us" in the Iran war.
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