US President Donald Trump’s statements sparked a diplomatic crisis with Rome, and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Taiani today (Friday) canceled his scheduled visit to the United States on June 21 and 22, in protest against what he described as “dangerous and offensive words” directed by Trump to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Photo during the G7 summit
Trump said in an interview with an Italian television channel that Meloni “begged” him to take a picture with him during the G7 summit in France, saying that she very much wanted to have a picture with him and that he agreed to that “out of pity for her.”
The Foreign Minister considered that the “dangerous and offensive words” that Trump directed at Meloni offended all Italians. For this reason, I have decided to cancel my visit to the United States scheduled for June 21-22.
The Italian Prime Minister accused her close ally, Donald Trump, of fabricating a story about her, after he told an Italian television channel that she “begged” him to take a picture with him during the G7 summit. Meloni expressed her astonishment at his statements, which she described as completely “made up,” accusing him of showing greater leniency toward the West’s opponents than its traditional allies.
The latest sign of deteriorating relations
This media exchange is the latest indication of deteriorating relations between the two sides, just days after signs of improvement appeared in the relationship between the two leaders during the G7 summit, following previous disagreements this year over the war in Iran.
Video clips from the summit held in France showed Meloni and Trump talking at length, but the American president suggested that he was only complimenting her during the conversation.
Italian channel La7 quoted Trump as saying in a short interview: “Maybe she was happy that I spoke to her. “I didn’t have to talk to her.” He added, according to the channel’s translation: “She begged me to take a picture with her.” She wanted a picture with me so badly. “I wasn’t going to do it, but I felt sorry for her.” The channel did not publish the original audio recording of the interview, but only broadcast a dubbed version.
Previous disagreements between Trump and Meloni
Meloni responded, saying: “Donald Trump’s statements are completely fabricated.” Honestly I’m surprised. “I don’t know why the President of the United States behaves this way toward his allies, and this is not the first time.”
She added: “I can only say that it is disappointing that he does not show the same amount of firmness towards the enemies of the West and the United States, whose leaders he treats with much greater leniency.” She pointed out that there is one thing he must remember: Neither I nor Italy are begging anyone.
Meloni was one of Trump’s most prominent supporters in the past, and was the only European leader to attend his inauguration ceremony in 2025, but she later criticized him for his attack on Pope Leo against the backdrop of the latter’s condemnation of the war with Iran, which prompted Trump to accuse her of lacking courage.
The statements made by US President Donald Trump sparked a diplomatic crisis with Rome, and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled his planned visit to the United States on June 21 and 22 today (Friday), in protest against what he described as “dangerous and offensive words” directed by Trump at Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Image during the G7 Summit
Trump stated in an interview with an Italian television channel that Meloni “begged” him to take a picture with her during the G7 summit in France, saying that she was very eager to get a picture with him and that he agreed to it “out of pity for her.”
The Foreign Minister considered that the “dangerous and offensive words” directed by Trump at Meloni offend all Italians. For this reason, I decided to cancel my visit to the United States scheduled for June 21 and 22.
Italian Prime Minister Meloni accused her close ally Donald Trump of fabricating a story about her after he told an Italian television channel that she “begged” him to take a picture with her during the G7 summit. Meloni expressed her astonishment in his statements, which she described as “completely fabricated,” accusing him of showing much more leniency towards the enemies of the West compared to his traditional allies.
The latest indication of deteriorating relations
This media exchange is the latest indication of the deterioration of relations between the two sides, just days after signs of improvement in the relationship between the two leaders during the G7 summit, following previous disagreements this year over the war in Iran.
Video footage from the summit held in France showed Meloni and Trump talking at length, although the US President implied that he was actually flattering her during the conversation.
Italian channel (La7) quoted Trump in a brief interview saying: “Maybe she was happy that I spoke with her. I shouldn’t have spoken with her.” He added, according to the channel’s translation: “She begged me to take a picture with her. She really wanted a picture with me. I wouldn’t have done it, but I felt pity for her.” The channel did not publish the original audio recording of the interview, only airing a dubbed version.
Previous disagreements between Trump and Meloni
Meloni responded by saying: “Donald Trump’s statements are completely fabricated. Frankly, I am astonished. I don’t know why the President of the United States behaves this way towards his allies, and this is not the first time.”
She added: “I can only say that it is disappointing that he does not show the same firmness towards the enemies of the West and the United States, with whom he deals with much greater leniency.” She pointed out that there is one thing he should remember: neither I nor Italy beg anyone.
Meloni had previously been one of Trump’s most prominent supporters and was the only European leader to attend his inauguration in 2025, but she later criticized him for his attack on Pope Leo following the latter’s condemnation of the war with Iran, which led Trump to accuse her of lacking courage.
