US President Donald Trump escalated a diplomatic row with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday, accusing her of repeatedly asking for a photo with him and linking the dispute to tensions over Iran and NATO.
The clash has opened an unusual personal rift between Trump and one of Europe’s most prominent right-wing leaders, who had sought to appear as a bridge between Washington and the continent during Trump’s return to power.
Trump initially told Italian broadcaster La7 that Meloni “begged” him for a photo at this week’s G7 summit in France, saying he only agreed because he “felt sorry for her”.
Meloni angrily denied the claim, calling it “made up,” but Trump doubled down in a post on Social Truth, saying Meloni had asked “over and over” for a photo during the summit.
He also accused him of trying to repair relations with Washington for domestic political reasons after Italy failed to support US action against Iran.
“Now that the US has militarily defeated Iran, it wants to be friends again so it can increase its ‘numbers’. No thanks!!!” Trump wrote.
He said Meloni was “weak in Italy” and suggested this was linked to her refusal to allow the United States to use Italian “landing strips or airstrips” during the conflict with Iran.
Trump also revived his long-standing complaint that the United States spends too much to defend “so-called” NATO allies, saying Washington contributes hundreds of billions of dollars to defend Italy and others.
The remarks were a sharp escalation of a dispute that had already sparked anger in Rome.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled a planned visit to the United States, saying on Friday that Trump’s “severe and insulting” words to Meloni “offend all of Italy.”
(aw)
