WASHINGTON (Agencies) – Relations between United States President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have deteriorated sharply after Trump renewed personal attacks against the Italian leader, accusing her of repeatedly seeking photographs with him during the recent G7 summit in France to boost her political standing.
In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump claimed Meloni had repeatedly requested photo opportunities with him during the gathering in Evian-les-Bains and suggested that she was trying to improve relations with Washington after Italy declined to support US military action against Iran.
“Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her numbers up. No thanks,” Trump wrote.
The comments marked a significant escalation in tensions between two leaders who had long been considered ideological allies and close partners within the Western alliance.
Trump had first made the allegations on Thursday, telling Italian media that Meloni had “begged” him for a picture and that he agreed only because he “felt sorry for her”. Meloni quickly dismissed the remarks, describing them as fabricated and expressing surprise at the accusations.
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Following Trump’s latest comments, the Italian prime minister again rejected the claims, saying the repeated attacks were unjustified and unnecessary.
“President Trump, these constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless,” Meloni wrote on Instagram. She added that her popularity depended on defending Italy’s interests and that she had always acted in accordance with those principles.
Trump also renewed his criticism of NATO allies, arguing that Washington spends enormous sums defending countries such as Italy while receiving insufficient support in return. He reiterated his long-held complaint that the United States shoulders an unfair share of Western security responsibilities.
The dispute has provoked anger in Rome. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelled a planned visit to the United States, condemning Trump’s remarks as “grave and offensive” and saying they insulted not only Meloni but Italy as a whole.
Meloni, leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy party, has increasingly questioned Trump’s approach to allies. In a video posted on X, she expressed concern that the US president appeared harsher toward partners than toward geopolitical rivals.
“I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way with his own allies,” she said, adding that he seemed more accommodating toward adversaries than toward countries traditionally aligned with Washington.
The dispute follows months of efforts by Meloni to maintain strong ties with Trump while reassuring European partners concerned about his return to the White House. At the conclusion of the G7 summit in Evian, she had insisted that relations among leaders remained positive and denied any signs of friction.
However, strains had already emerged earlier this year when Meloni defended Pope Leo XIV after Trump criticised the pontiff’s antiwar stance. Trump later expressed disappointment with the Italian premier and accused her of failing to support efforts aimed at confronting Iran.
The public clash represents one of the most serious rifts between Trump and a major European conservative ally. Personal tensions are increasingly spilling into official diplomatic relations, raising concerns over unity within the Western alliance.
The dispute threatens to complicate cooperation between Washington and Rome on defence, trade and Middle East policy. It has also revived debates over NATO burden-sharing and America’s commitment to its allies.
Analysts say both governments may attempt to ease tensions through diplomatic channels, but the increasingly personal nature of the exchanges could make reconciliation more difficult. Upcoming NATO and European meetings are likely to test the resilience of the US-Italy partnership.
Pakistan closely follows developments affecting relations among major Western powers because instability within NATO and disagreements over the Middle East could influence broader geopolitical alignments, energy markets and international diplomatic efforts, all of which have implications for Pakistan’s foreign policy and economic interests.
I can also adapt this into a newspaper-style report suitable for publication in The Express Tribune or other Pakistani media outlets.
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