Trump says Meloni 'begged' for photo with him; Italian PM denies: 'Completely invented statements'

Understand the exchange of barbs between Trump and Giorgia Meloni
The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, accused Donald Trump this Friday (19) of inventing a story about her, after the President of the United States told an Italian TV channel that she had "begged" him to take a photo with him during the G7 summit.
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In a TV interview La7, after he himself asked the journalist about the Italian Prime Minister, Trump said:
"She begged me to take a photo with her. She really wanted a photo with me. I wouldn't have taken it, but I felt sorry for her."
Meloni said she was "surprised" by the comments and assured that they were "completely made up." He also reprimanded the American for acting with much more deference to the enemies of the West than to former allies.
"Donald Trump's statements are completely fabricated. I am frankly surprised. I don't know why the President of the United States behaves this way towards his allies: besides, it is not the first time. I can only say that it is disappointing that he does not show the same determination towards the enemies of the West and the United States, whose leaders he treats with much more leniency. There is one thing he must remember: neither I nor Italy we never begged," he said.
Videos from the G7 event in France showed Meloni and Trump in deep conversation, sitting side by side on a small sofa (see below). The American leader suggested that he had only pleased her by talking to her.
Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni talking on a sofa during the G7 summit
Ministry of the Italian Prime Minister/Disclosure via REUTERS
Following the comments, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced the cancellation of a planned visit to the United States next week.
"President Trump's serious and offensive words towards Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy", condemned the minister on the social network barbs between Trump and Meloni
In April, Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni, previously close allies, began exchanging criticism in recent days.
Meloni criticized Trump after the US president called Pope Leo XIV "weak" for condemning the war in Iran:
"I consider President Trump's words towards the Holy Father unacceptable. war."
The answer came a day later. In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Trump said he was "shocked" by the Italian leader's stance and said he believed she lacked courage.
"She is no longer the same person, and Italy will never be the same country."
Meloni once again defends the pope from Trump's criticism
Despite the episode involving Leo XIV, the distance between Trump and Meloni began months earlier.
Analysts interviewed by The New York Times believe that the prime minister took advantage of the moment to signal to the domestic public a departure from the North American president, amid surveys that indicate an increase in their unpopularity among Italian voters.
Understand below how Trump and Meloni became closer and further apart.
Bridge with the USA
The Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, and the president of the United States, Donald Trump, in April 2025
REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
Meloni has always been seen as one of the European leaders closest to Trump. The two shared similar positions on issues such as combating illegal immigration and criticizing progressive agendas, which they classified as "woke".
The rapprochement began even before Meloni came to power.
In 2018, she hosted former Trump advisor Stephen Bannon at a conservative conference in Italy, when she was still considered a rising politician.
The following year, Meloni participated in a conservative event in the United States. She spoke on the same day as Trump.
When Trump returned to the White House in 2025, Meloni was the only European leader present at the inauguration ceremony in Washington. The prime minister frequently praised the Republican's policies and came to be seen as a trusted name for the US in Europe.
The climate began to change in April last year, when Trump announced trade tariffs against dozens of countries, including European allies. Meloni stated that the United States was making the wrong decision by taxing products from the continent.
Still, that same month, the prime minister traveled to Washington and met with Trump at the White House. The meeting, held in front of journalists in the Oval Office, was marked by mutual praise. Meloni was even seen as a possible bridge between the US and Europe.
In October, the two had an unusual moment during an event in Egypt to sign a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.
"In America, if you tell a woman she is beautiful, her political career is over. But I take the risk," Trump said during the speech. Then he turned to Meloni, who was standing behind him, and said:
"You won't be offended if I say you're beautiful, will you? Because you are."
The prime minister smiled and maintained a good mood while Trump described her as "incredible" and "successful." At other moments of the event, however, she appeared to be bored.
Crisis
Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, and US President, Donald Trump, greet each other at the 'Gaza summit', in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
Suzanne Plunkett/Pool/Reuters
The relationship took on new contours in January, when Trump once again defended the annexation of Greenland, an autonomous territory under the sovereignty of Denmark.
The proposal was rejected by European countries, which even sent military personnel to exercise on the island. When asked about the matter at a press conference, Meloni tried to balance between a conciliatory tone and a firmer one.
"I don't believe in the hypothesis of the US starting military action in Greenland, which I wouldn't agree with," she said. "I believe that the Trump administration, with its very assertive methods, is drawing attention to the strategic importance of Greenland."
In February, when the US attacked Iran in a joint action with Israel, Italy was surprised. The Italian Defense Minister was on vacation in the United Arab Emirates and had to be rescued in a military jet. The case became the target of mockery by the opposition.
"For months we were told that Meloni was the bridge between Trump and Europe. Today we discovered that the White House warned the British, French, Germans and even Poles about the operation in Iran. Everyone, except us Italians. What a shame!", wrote the leader of the opposition, Matteo Renzi.
Quickly, surveys showed that the Italians did not support the North American offensive. Furthermore, the war caused gas and energy prices to rise in the country. All of this occurred in the same month that Italy was going to the polls to vote on a reform of the Judiciary supported by Meloni.
Faced with this scenario, the Prime Minister began to condemn the war.
In the first days of the conflict, she stated that she was worried about the conflict and said that the United States acted without consulting European allies.
Days later, Meloni declared that Italy would not participate in the war.
In addition, the Italian Defense Minister stated that the attack against Iran "occurred outside the norms of international law."
In yet another gesture, Meloni refused to allow United States fighter jets to use an air base in Sicily for combat operations in Iran.
Still, the prime minister ended up defeated in the referendum on judicial reform. The result strengthened the opposition, which was facing difficulties in combating the government's policies.
Opportunity
The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, on April 15, 2026
REUTERS/Remo Casilli
According to The New York Times, experts believe that Meloni may have taken advantage of the crisis between Trump and the Pope to break with the American president. Analysts believe that a definitive departure could change the perception of Italian voters uncomfortable with the USA.
On Tuesday (14), in yet another move in this direction, she announced that Italy would not renew a defense agreement with Israel. The measure was adopted after warning shots hit an Italian convoy that is part of the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.
The decision, according to analysts interviewed by the Associated Press, was motivated more by internal politics than by a strategic change.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Business and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, stated that relations between the United States and Italy will not be shaken by the controversy involving Pope Leo.
"Italy and the United States are allied countries and maintain their relationship and alliance within international institutions, starting, obviously, with the Atlantic Alliance", he said in an interview with Radio 24.
Trump insisted this Wednesday that the relationship between the two countries has deteriorated. "She's been negative," he said in an interview with Fox News.
"Anyone who refused to help us on this Iran issue no longer has the same relationship with us."
On the other hand, Mariangela Zappia, former Italian ambassador to the United States, stated that the personal crisis between Meloni and Trump should not affect relations between the two countries. According to her, Trump has acted impulsively after becoming frustrated with Europe regarding Iran.
"Europe absolutely considers the United States a historic ally, but, in a way, it wants to participate in the decisions that are made," Zappia told the Associated Press.
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Source: G1