A major diplomatic dispute has erupted between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and US President Donald Trump after Trump claimed that Meloni had “begged” him for a photograph during the recent G7 Summit in Évian, France.
Speaking in an interview with Italian television channel La7, Donald Trump alleged that Giorgia Meloni had insisted on taking a photograph with him and that he agreed only because he “felt sorry for her.”
The remarks triggered an immediate response from Giorgia Meloni, who strongly denied the claim in a self-recorded video message posted on social media.
“I am shocked by Trump’s utterly fabricated words,” Giorgia Meloni said, describing the US President’s comments as “totally invented.”
Expressing disappointment over Trump’s treatment of allies, she said she was appalled by his remarks and questioned why he appeared more accommodating towards adversaries of the West than towards long-standing partners. She concluded her response with a pointed statement: “Italy and I never beg.”
The controversy quickly escalated into a diplomatic issue, with Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Italy, cancelling his scheduled visit to the United States on June 21 and 22 in protest. Antonio Tajani described Trump’s remarks as “serious and offensive” and said they had insulted not only Giorgia Meloni but the entire nation of Italy.
The dispute marks a further deterioration in relations between the two leaders, whose ties have faced strains in recent months despite earlier efforts to improve communication during the G7 Summit. Italian officials had previously described recent exchanges between Giorgia Meloni and Donald Trump as attempts to clarify differences and preserve Western unity.
The latest controversy has drawn widespread attention in Italy, with political leaders across the spectrum rallying behind the Prime Minister and condemning Trump’s remarks.
The diplomatic fallout comes at a sensitive time for transatlantic relations, with both countries playing key roles in discussions on global security, geopolitical tensions and international economic cooperation.
Notably, the claims in the provided text regarding Giorgia Meloni’s interactions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including references to specific comments, gifts, social media statistics and the “#Melodi” trend, could not be independently verified from reliable reporting related to this diplomatic dispute and therefore are not included in this news report.
