ROME — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and U.S. President Donald Trump traded public barbs over matters linked to the Group of Seven summit, escalating a dispute that emerged days after the leaders met in Evian-les-Bains, France, according to statements from both sides and comments reported by media outlets.
The latest exchange centered on Trump's assertion that Meloni had repeatedly sought a photograph with him during the G7 gathering. In remarks reported by Italian and international media, Trump said the Italian leader had “begged” for a picture. Meloni rejected the claim on Friday, calling it “completely made up” and saying she was “astonished” by the comments.
The dispute marked a further deterioration in relations between two leaders who had previously been viewed as political allies. According to Reuters and Associated Press reporting, tensions had already surfaced over differences related to U.S. policy in the Middle East and broader foreign policy issues.
Meloni, speaking in a video message reported by several media organizations, said it was regrettable that Trump did not show the same determination toward “the enemies of the West” as he did toward longstanding allies. Trump later responded with additional criticism, questioning Meloni’s domestic political standing and repeating his account of events surrounding the G7 summit.
The disagreement came shortly after the June G7 summit in Evian, where leaders discussed international security, economic resilience and other global issues. During the gathering, Meloni and Trump held talks described by Italian officials and media reports as a “clarification” meeting following months of strained relations. Italian diplomatic sources said the discussions were intended to address recent disagreements and reaffirm cooperation among Western allies.
Publicly, both leaders initially appeared to strike a more conciliatory tone at the summit. “We have always been friends,” Meloni said during an exchange on the sidelines of the meeting, according to media reports. Trump replied that he had been “abandoned,” prompting a brief back-and-forth that drew attention from other leaders attending the summit.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani subsequently canceled a planned visit to the United States, saying Trump's remarks were offensive, according to reports carried by international media.
As of Sunday, neither the White House nor Meloni’s office had announced additional bilateral talks. Officials on both sides continued to describe the United States and Italy as allies, while details regarding any further efforts to ease tensions remained unclear.
