As the diplomatic fallout from last month's G7 summit continues to simmer, former US President Donald Trump has reignited tensions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by doubling down on his claim that she repeatedly requested a photograph with him. This fresh salvo in their public spat not only rekindles memories of the controversy surrounding Mr Trump's comments about Italy's foreign policy stance on Iran but also casts a spotlight on the increasingly strained relations between two nations that have historically enjoyed close ties.
Mr Trump's latest riposte, posted on Truth Social, came after Ms Meloni had earlier dismissed his initial claim as 'made-up', stating she was astonished by Mr Trump's behaviour towards allies. In his latest outburst, Mr Trump alleged that Italy's refusal to allow US military aircraft to land at the Sigonella air base in Sicily for operations targeting Iran was causing a 'great logistical inconvenience' and accused Ms Meloni of obstructing US efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
The controversy began after the G7 summit, where Mr Trump claimed Ms Meloni had 'begged' him for a photo during a phone interview with Italy's La7 TV channel. In response, Ms Meloni published an Instagram video stating she was unaware of why the US president treated allies in such a manner and firmly rejected the notion of Italy ever 'begging' for anything from the US. She also took aim at Mr Trump's stance on Iran, suggesting he should focus his efforts on tackling common enemies rather than adversaries.
Mr Trump's latest salvo has already had tangible diplomatic repercussions, with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reportedly cancelling a planned trip to the US early next week. The UK Government will be closely monitoring developments given Italy's key role in European alliances and its position as a G7 partner. Any significant deterioration in US-Italy relations could have broader implications for NATO cohesion and Western alliances, impacting coordinated efforts on global issues.
Despite their close historical connection – Ms Meloni was the sole European leader to attend Mr Trump's inauguration in January 2025 – tensions between the two leaders are running high. The recent public spat follows a previous clash over Mr Trump's comments on Pope Leo XIV earlier this year, which Ms Meloni deemed 'unacceptable'. This ongoing verbal confrontation has put a strain on an already volatile political connection.