Meloni Rebukes Trump Over False Claims of Supplication

Meloni expressed astonishment at the remarks, dismissing the account as entirely fabricated. She pointedly questioned why the American president directs such hostility toward established allies while showing indulgence toward the adversaries of the West. The exchange signals a definitive cooling of relations between the two right-wing figures, who had appeared to be repairing ties during recent meetings in France.

Trump’s comments, provided via a dubbed translation on La7, suggested he only engaged with the Prime Minister out of pity. “She wanted a picture with me so badly,” he claimed, implying the interaction was a favor rather than a diplomatic exchange. Meloni countered this narrative with a firm rejection of the power dynamic implied by his words, stating, “Neither I nor Italy ever beg.” The incident marks a departure from their previous alignment, which saw Meloni attend Trump’s 2025 inauguration. Tensions previously surfaced following disputes over the war in Iran and Trump’s public criticism of Pope Leo, incidents that already had pushed the two leaders into a period of public estrangement.