Meloni slams Trump attacks after US President Donald Trump accused her of seeking a photo at G7, escalating US–Italy diplomatic tensions

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sharply criticised United States President Donald Trump on Saturday, describing his repeated remarks as “constant, unprovoked attacks” and “senseless”, as a diplomatic rift between Rome and Washington widened following tense exchanges at the G7 summit in France.

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The confrontation escalated after Donald Trump alleged in an interview with Italian broadcaster La7 that Giorgia Meloni had repeatedly sought a photograph with him during the summit, claims the Italian leader firmly rejected as “made up”.

The dispute has since developed into one of the most personal exchanges between the two leaders in recent months, despite earlier efforts to maintain warm bilateral ties.

The situation intensified when Donald Trump repeated his accusations on Truth Social, insisting that Giorgia Meloni had asked “over and over” for a photograph and suggesting her diplomatic engagement with Washington was driven by domestic political considerations in Italy.

“Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her ‘numbers up.’ No thanks!!!” Donald Trump wrote, also claiming that Italy had restricted US military access during the recent Iran conflict.

Giorgia Meloni responded firmly on Instagram, rejecting the allegations and pushing back against what she described as an unfair personal narrative being constructed about her political conduct.

“Being your friend certainly has not helped it, nor does it depend on my relationship with you,” Giorgia Meloni stated, adding that her domestic political standing was “none of your concern”.

She also defended Italy’s military agreements with the United States, insisting that all arrangements regarding the use of bases and infrastructure were governed by longstanding treaties that Rome had fully respected.

The exchange has triggered wider diplomatic unease, with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelling a planned visit to the United States, describing Donald Trump’s remarks as “grave and offensive” and arguing that they reflected poorly on broader US–Italy relations.

Within Rome, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto also weighed in, noting that such comments “do not benefit anyone”, while Justice Minister Carlo Nordio described the episode as a “painful injury” to diplomatic ties between both countries.

The row comes at a sensitive moment in transatlantic relations, as Giorgia Meloni had previously positioned herself as a pragmatic bridge between Europe and Donald Trump’s administration during his return to power, cultivating a working relationship that had been seen as unusually constructive compared to other European leaders.

That perception now appears strained, following months of geopolitical tension linked to the Middle East conflict and broader disagreements over NATO burden-sharing.

Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised European allies for what he views as disproportionate reliance on US defence spending, a stance that has long complicated relations with several NATO partners, including Italy.

Giorgia Meloni had earlier expressed surprise at the remarks, saying she was “frankly stunned” and insisting there was “no friction” during the G7 summit discussions in Evian, where both leaders were seen interacting closely in informal settings.

However, Saturday’s exchange signals a sharper tone in their relationship, with Giorgia Meloni indicating she would not continue publicly responding to the matter, suggesting an attempt to de-escalate after days of intensifying rhetoric.

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Despite that, the episode has already fuelled renewed debate in Europe over the reliability of US political engagement under Donald Trump, particularly as allies navigate sensitive security and economic alignments in an increasingly fragmented global order.