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The Italian government is pushing back against President Trump, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni accusing him of making up a story about her begging for a photo at the Group of Seven (G7) summit, and the country’s top diplomat canceling a visit to the U.S. in protest.
In an extraordinary rebuke, Meloni posted a video on the social media site X, addressing reported statements attributed to Trump that claimed he indulged the Italian leader by holding a conversation with her and that she “begged” for a picture.
“There is one thing he must remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg,” Meloni said in the video, speaking Italian.
She said she was “astounded” by Trump’s comments, calling them “completely fabricated.” She said it’s regrettable that Trump treats his enemies better than he treats allied nations.
“I do not know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his allies—it is certainly not the first time this has happened,” she said.
“I can only say it is regrettable that he does not show the same determination against the enemies of the West and the United States—against leaderships with whom he actually proves to be much more accommodating.”
Moments before Meloni’s post, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced he was canceling a visit to the U.S. scheduled for next week, saying Trump’s comments about the Italian leader “offend all of Italy.”
“The serious and offensive words of President Trump towards Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy. For this reason, I have decided to cancel my visit to the United States scheduled for the next 21 and 22 June.”
Meloni and her top aides were reacting to an interview published by Italy’s La7 TV channel, translating and interview between the journalist and the president but not playing the original audio.
“She’s probably happy I talked to her. I didn’t have to talk to her,” Trump was quoted as saying by La7 TV channel in a brief interview, Reuters reported.
“She begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her,” Trump said, according to La7’s translation.
Video at the G7 summit, which took place earlier this week in Evian-les-Bains, France, showed Trump and Meloni sitting on a couch, side by side, deep in conversation, Reuters reported.
The episode marks a sharp deterioration in U.S.-Italian ties, where Trump had earlier praised Meloni as a “beautiful young woman” and the right-wing, populist Italian leader had forged a bond with the president that few leaders in Europe had managed.
But Trump lashed out at Meloni, Italy and the Pope earlier this year for criticisms against the U.S. war against Iran and Meloni defending the Vatican for speaking out against the war.
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