Trump admits that relationship with Meloni 'soured' after new provocation before NATO summit

US President Donald Trump during a meeting at the NATO summit
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, decided to avoid escalating a conflict with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and will not ignore him during the NATO summit, which takes place starting this Tuesday (7) in Turkey, according to the news agency Reuters.
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A source close to the Italian prime minister, who preferred to remain anonymous when speaking to the agency, ruled out the possibility of her not greeting Trump, stating that she knows how to deal with such situations and that, instead, she would greet him "with a smile".
The meeting of the two leaders, who have already declared themselves close allies, will take place two days after a new provocation from the US president. Trump, who has been making a series of attacks on the Italian leader in the last two weeks, posted a manipulated image on the Truth Social network in which the Italian leader appears looking at him as if she were adoring him, with the phrase:
"Restraining order necessary".
Trump attacks Giorgia Meloni again on social media
Truth Social / Reproduction
Upon arriving in Ankara, where the summit is taking place, Trump was asked about his relationship with Meloni and admitted that she "turned sour":
"I think she's a nice person, personally. Our relationship got bad because she refused to get involved with the war in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. I like her, we have a good relationship, but I think she made a mistake. She wasn't there for us and I wasn't happy about it."
Meloni did not comment on Trump's post and, unlike previous attacks, Italian ministers avoided adding to the controversy when asked about the matter this Monday (6).
Understand the exchange of barbs between Trump and Giorgia Meloni
The Italian Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, who will accompany Meloni at the NATO meeting in Ankara in the coming days, said that "the essential thing is to preserve transatlantic relations".
The deputy prime minister and head of Italian diplomacy, Antonio Tajani, told the Sky TG24 channel that the message, reproduced on the cover of all major Italian newspapers in this on Monday, "no comment needed".
This Tuesday, Tajani stated that Rome has no plans to fall into the trap and that he wanted to maintain good relations with the US, regardless of who the president was.
"Trump speaks for himself. We have an American president who loves to provoke, especially on social media. We decided to stop responding to these statements", he told the newspaper "La Stampa".
Trump's jabs at Meloni
Meloni was targeted by Trump for the first time in the on June 19, when the North American president, in an interview with an Italian TV channel, said that she "begged" to take a photo with him during the G7 summit.
At the time, the Italian prime minister said she was "surprised" by the comments and assured that they were "completely invented".
However, hours later, Trump reaffirmed his previous statement and needled Meloni, saying that her "popularity is on the decline". She responded by calling the former ally's attacks 'senseless' and teased: "My popularity is none of your business. I suggest you focus on yours."
The conflict between Trump and Meloni began in April, when the Italian criticized the US president after the US president called Pope Leo XIV "weak" for condemning the war in Iran.

Source: G1