US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni traded fresh barbs on Saturday, deepening an increasingly public rift between two leaders once seen as close allies. Trump accused Meloni of seeking to repair ties with Washington after refusing to support the US-led military campaign against Iran, while also claiming her popularity had suffered because of her stance.
Meloni swiftly hit back, calling Trump’s criticism “senseless” and rejecting any suggestion that her political standing depended on her relationship with the US president.
Earlier in the day, in a Truth Social post, Trump launched a scathing attack on Meloni, accusing her of seeking to rebuild relations with the US after she rejected his claims that she had repeatedly asked for a photograph with him during the recently concluded G7 summit in France.
European Council President Antonio Costa, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, U.S. President Donald Trump, Kenya’s President William Ruto, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gather for a group photo at the G7 summit, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Evian-les-Bains, France. (AP)
Trump’s remarks came a day after Meloni called his allegations “completely fabricated” and declared that “Italy and I do not beg”.
Trump attacks Meloni over Iran stance
Trump used the social media post to revisit disagreements that emerged during the Iran conflict, claiming Italy had refused to allow American forces to use its airfields during military operations.
“She wouldn’t even let us use Italy’s landing strips or runways, a great logistical inconvenience,” Trump wrote, while also criticising NATO allies that declined to support the campaign.
Donald Trump shared the post on Truth Social a day after Meloni called his allegations “completely fabricated” and declared that “Italy and I do not beg”.
The US president further claimed that Meloni was now trying to improve relations with Washington after what he described as America’s military success 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!!!”
Meloni hits back
Meloni soon responded, saying in a statement to Trump that “these constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless”.
“As for my popularity, being your friend certainly has not helped it, nor does it depend on my relationship with you. My popularity depends on my ability to defend Italy’s national interest, and that is exactly what I have always done,” Meloni said in a post on Instagram.
She added that “in any case, my popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours”.
Trump’s initial comments were aired Friday on the La7 network. A correspondent had asked the president about Ukraine, but Trump raised Meloni and made the claim about the photo. Trump said he was not obliged to take the picture with her, but that he felt sorry for her and agreed, La7 said.
The broadcaster put a dubbed version of the conversation online, but not the original English audio. In his post, Trump also complained that Meloni would not allow the US to use Italy’s landing strips or runways during the Iran war, even though the US is a leader in defence spending among NATO allies. That is a long-standing complaint about the military alliance and one that Trump raised before his White House meeting Wednesday with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and the NATO summit in Turkey next month.
Italy, a key logistics hub for the US, declined in March to allow American bombers headed for West Asia to use a base in Sicily without parliamentary approval. It was a decision reflecting constitutional constraints and strong domestic opposition to the war. Meloni has insisted that any use of Italian bases for offensive operations would require parliamentary backing.
Trump’s comments came days after the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending more than three months of conflict in West Asia, a war that exposed divisions between Washington and several European allies.
Meloni slams Trump’s claims as ‘fabricated’
On Friday, Meloni responded with an unusually direct public rebuttal, rejecting Trump’s allegations and expressing astonishment at the US president’s remarks.
“Donald Trump’s statements are completely fabricated. I am frankly stunned,” she said in a video statement released on Friday.
The Italian leader questioned why Trump continued to attack allies rather than adversaries.
“I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his own allies. After all, this isn’t the first time this has happened,” she said.
Meloni also appeared to contrast Trump’s treatment of allies with his approach toward rival leaders.
“I can only say that it’s a shame he doesn’t show the same resolve toward the enemies of the West, toward the enemies of the United States — toward leaders with whom he, on the other hand, is much more accommodating.”
She ended with a pointed response to Trump’s claim that she had sought his attention at the G7 summit.
“But there’s one thing he must remember: Italy and I do not beg.”
Italy closes ranks behind its prime minister
Trump’s comments triggered a strong reaction across Italy’s political establishment.
News agency Associated Press reported that Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelled a planned trip to the United States and described Trump’s remarks as “serious and offensive” toward both Meloni and Italy. Italy’s Foreign Ministry later announced that a business and scientific forum in Miami, which Tajani had been scheduled to attend, had also been cancelled.
Support for Meloni came from across the political spectrum. President Sergio Mattarella reportedly contacted the prime minister, while senior ministers publicly defended her.
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said he could not imagine Meloni ever begging anyone for a photograph, while Justice Minister Carlo Nordio said Trump’s remarks risked damaging the long-standing friendship between the United States and Italy.
In a rare show of cross-party solidarity, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also publicly backed Meloni, saying he had expressed support for her during a European Council meeting.
How a close alliance unravelled
The clash is a sharp contrast from the warm relationship the two leaders enjoyed earlier.
Meloni was the only European Union leader to attend Trump’s inauguration and had visited him at Mar-a-Lago before his return to the White House. Trump frequently praised her as “fantastic”, “incredible” and a key ally in Europe.
However, differences emerged over Ukraine, trade, the Gaza conflict and, most significantly, Iran. According to AP, Meloni opposed the US-led military campaign against Iran and later criticised suggestions that Washington could use force to seize Greenland. Trump also publicly criticised her earlier this year after she refused to back the Iran operation.
CNN reported this week that Trump’s relationships with several G7 leaders have become increasingly strained amid disagreements over the Iran war, reopening old tensions between Washington and some of its closest allies.
Why the dispute matters
The controversy comes at a sensitive moment for transatlantic relations as Western allies seek to maintain unity on Iran, Ukraine, NATO and global security challenges. Italy is one of Washington’s closest European partners and a key NATO member. Meloni had sought to position herself as a bridge between the Trump administration and the European Union, a role that now appears increasingly difficult as relations deteriorate.
(With inputs from AP)
US President Donald Trump speaks with Germanys Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Council President Antonio Costa and Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at a working lunch with leaders of G7 and the Middle East during the G7 summit, in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 16, 2026. (REUTERS) 
European Council President Antonio Costa, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, U.S. President Donald Trump, Kenya’s President William Ruto, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gather for a group photo at the G7 summit, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Evian-les-Bains, France. (AP)
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