Meloni expressed astonishment at the remarks, firing back in a video statement that she and Italy do not beg. She criticized the U.S. leader for showing more deference to adversaries of the West than to established European partners. The diplomatic fallout was immediate, with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceling a scheduled visit to the United States.
Giovanbattista Fazzolari, a senior official in Meloni’s office, escalated the rhetoric by accusing Trump of actively dismantling historic transatlantic relations. The tension follows Trump’s public assertion to La7 TV that he only agreed to the photo out of pity. While Meloni once stood as a vocal supporter of the former president, the relationship has buckled under disagreements regarding the Middle East and NATO’s involvement in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump, for his part, has continued to dismiss Meloni’s support, suggesting in an NBC interview that he no longer desires her backing.
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