The public spat marks a significant fracture in the relationship between the two right-wing figures. Trump told Italy’s La7 channel that he only engaged with Meloni because he felt sorry for her, asserting she desired a photo with him so badly that she pleaded for it. Meloni, who was once a vocal supporter of the former president, called the comments astonishing and completely made up. She publicly questioned why the U.S. leader reserves such hostility for established allies while treating Western adversaries with indulgence.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani declared the remarks offensive to all of Italy, prompting the cancellation of his high-level visit to Washington. Meanwhile, Giovanbattista Fazzolari, an undersecretary to the prime minister, accused Trump of actively wrecking historic trans-Atlantic relations. The tension follows earlier friction between the pair, specifically regarding their conflicting stances on the conflict in Iran and subsequent criticisms of Pope Leo. Meloni, who famously attended Trump's 2025 inauguration, concluded her response with a firm rebuttal: neither she nor Italy ever begs.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first!