Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hit back at U.S President Donald Trump’s claims of her begging to take a photo with him at the G7 summit, asserting that she and Italy would “never beg”.
Trump spoke to Italy’s La7 TV channel, where he said that Meloni wanted to take a picture with him “so badly” and that he did so because he felt “sorry for her”
“She’s probably happy I talked to her. I didn’t have to talk to her. She begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her,” he said.
Meloni responded to Trump’s interview by sharing a video on her X account, calling him out for making insulting comments about his allies.
“Donald Trump’s statements are completely made up, I’m frankly appalled. I don’t know why the President of the United States behaves this way with his own allies; after all, it’s not the first time it’s happened,” she said in the video.
She also added, “I can only say it’s a shame that he doesn’t show the same determination with the enemies of the West, with the enemies of the United States, with leaderships toward which he instead proves much more accommodating. However, one thing he must remember: I and Italy never beg.”
Italy’s alliance with the United States had suffered friction earlier this year after Trump made unfavourable remarks against Pope Leo XIV for condemning the U.S-Israel operation against Iran. Meloni criticised Trump for his statement, which further led to him accusing her of lacking courage.
Trump faces backlash from Italian leaders
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced his decision to cancel his scheduled visit to the United States in an X post, stating that Trump’s words against Meloni had offended the entire country.
“The serious and offensive words of President Trump towards Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy. For this reason, I have decided to cancel my visit to the United States scheduled for the next 21 and 22 June,” he wrote.
Other Italian leaders have also come forward to rebuke Trump, with Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto reinforcing the message that Meloni would never beg someone for a photo, “not even under threat”.
