The diplomatic row between Italy and the United States has taken a dramatic turn after President Donald Trump claimed Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni "begged" him for a picture, prompting a sharp response from the Italian leader who insisted she has never begged anyone in her life.
The heated exchange unfolded after Trump gave a phone interview with Italy's La7 TV channel where he alleged that Meloni had pleaded with him for a photo opportunity during their recent meeting at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France. "She begged me to take a photo with her; I felt sorry for her," Trump said in remarks that have now triggered an open confrontation between the two leaders.
Meloni responded with total disbelief, taking to Instagram to address her seven million followers in what she described as a state of being "frankly stunned." The Italian Prime Minister did not hold back in her response, questioning why the US president would treat allies in such a manner. "I don't know why the US president behaves this way towards allies," she stated, adding that this was not the first time such incidents had occurred.
In a pointed counterattack, Meloni noted that it was regrettable Trump did not show the same determination towards America's enemies, suggesting that the US president appeared far more accommodating with those who oppose Western interests. She concluded her statement with a firm declaration that has now become the defining moment of this diplomatic spat: "Neither I nor Italy ever beg."
The fallout from Trump's comments has been swift and significant. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has cancelled a scheduled trip to the United States early next week, a clear signal of Rome's displeasure. Even Italy's President Sergio Mattarella immediately phoned Meloni to offer his support, demonstrating the united front being presented by Italian leadership.
Political figures across the Italian spectrum have rallied behind their Prime Minister. Filippo Sensi, a senator from the opposition Democratic Party, stated that no one had the right to speak to an Italian Prime Minister in such an arrogant tone. Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte added that Italy did not deserve such humiliation, warning that chasing favours with Washington should never come at the expense of national dignity and interest.
Even from Meloni's own Brothers of Italy party, Senate group leader Lucio Malan noted that Trump's words were part of a broader pattern of offensive remarks directed at various European leaders. Malan suggested that the video footage from the G7 actually showed a very different dynamic to what Trump had described, and what truly irritated the US president may have been Meloni's record of saying no to Washington when necessary.
This public falling out represents a significant shift in the relationship between the two leaders. Meloni was elected in 2022 and was the sole European leader to attend Trump's inauguration in January 2025, widely viewed by her EU colleagues as a potential bridge-builder with the US president. However, their relationship has deteriorated over several incidents, including Meloni's outspoken opposition to the US war with Iran. In April, Trump had already hit back in a phone interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera, saying, "I thought she had courage, but I was wrong."
The diplomatic rift is not an isolated incident but rather part of a broader trend. European leaders who once accommodated President Trump are now more ready to challenge him. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called him out for his criticism of UK and allied forces in Afghanistan. Several European leaders, including Meloni, have openly criticised Trump's war on Iran, refusing to allow US bombers to use their air bases.
Diplomats say European leaders have shown more resolve since the US threatened Greenland earlier this year. Talk has resumed once again of Europe forging a more strategically autonomous path, with capitals looking to do more themselves without having to depend on an increasingly unreliable ally across the Atlantic. Even right-wing European parties, which initially saw Trump as a political fellow traveller, are now distancing themselves from their American counterparts.
Government ally Matteo Salvini from the League summed up the sentiment in Italy simply: "Whoever attacks Giorgia, attacks all of us." The message from Rome could not be clearer.
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