A public dispute has erupted after Italy’s prime minister accused Donald Trump of inventing a story about their meeting at the G7 summit.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has strongly denied a claim by US President Donald Trump that she “begged” him for a photo during the recent G7 summit in France.
The controversy began after Trump told Italian broadcaster La7 that Meloni had asked him for a picture and that he “felt sorry for her.” Meloni responded on social media, calling the claim completely false and saying she was “frankly stunned” by the remarks.
The Italian leader insisted that neither she nor Italy “ever beg” and questioned why Trump would speak that way about a close ally. In response to the growing tension, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reportedly cancelled a planned trip to the United States.
The disagreement highlights growing strains in US-Italy relations despite the close ties both leaders initially shared. Meloni was one of the few European leaders to attend Trump’s inauguration in January 2025 and was often viewed as a bridge between Washington and Europe.
Italian political leaders across party lines have largely rallied behind Meloni, with government allies and opposition figures condemning Trump’s comments as disrespectful to Italy and its leadership.
The dispute marks one of the most public clashes yet between Trump and Meloni, raising fresh questions about the future of US-Italy relations.
