Why are Trump and Italian Meloni at odds? “She wants to take a picture with me” vs “He must remember one thing”

Donald Trump and Georgia Meloni sat on a small sofa during what appeared to be a long conversation during the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains. The US president now claims the Italian prime minister “begged” him: “She wanted so badly to take a photo with me – I could have skipped it, but I felt sorry for her.” Meloni responded by chiding in Italian: “Io e l’Italia non imploriamo mai.” “Neither Italy nor I know how to beg.”

A diplomatic spat ensued and World War II was mentioned in the response.

In a phone call with NBC News, Trump doubled down. “That’s true,” he said of the “begging” argument.

“She’s not with us. She’s a big fan of ours, but I don’t want her to be my fan “Because she and NATO are not there, related to the strait,” he added, referring to the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is a waterway that Iran blocked after the United States and Israel launched a military strike in late February. Trump has repeatedly accused NATO allies of failing to support U.S. forces once the war began.

“All I can say is that it is a pity that he did not show the same determination towards the enemies of the West, the enemies of the United States, and his leaders who were more tolerant of them. But one thing he has to remember is that Italy and I will not beg,” she said.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani then abruptly canceled a planned trip to the United States. Tajani wrote on X, “President Trump’s serious and offensive remarks about the Prime Minister Georgia Meloni Offended all of Italy. For this reason, I have decided to cancel my visit to the United States originally scheduled for June 21st and 22nd. “

As of Friday afternoon, the Italian government and political circles had expressed their solidarity with Meloni, including an appeal from Italy’s head of state, President Sergio Mattarella.

Transport Minister Matteo Salvini posted, “Whoever attacks Giorgia Meloni attacks us all.” Justice Minister Carlo Nordio remembered the American troops who died in Italy during World War II, writing that their sacrifices “were not worth such a painful blow to our brotherhood.” Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said he did not believe Meloni would ask someone for a photo “even under threat,” Reuters reported.

One of Meloni’s closest political allies, Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office Giovanbattista Fazzolari, made a rare public swipe, saying, “It is not clear whether Trump is destroying the historic relationship between the United States and Europe out of intentionality or incompetence.”

In a post on X, Renzi called on Meloni to abandon her relationship with Trump, saying “the global right has failed.”

The breakdown is a stunning reversal for a leader who has staked much of his international standing on his relationship with Trump. Meloni took office in October 2022 as leader of the right-wing coalition and was the only EU leader invited to Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025.

Trump spoke of her in typically glowing terms, calling her “awesome,” “incredible” and a friend. She positioned herself as a potential “bridge” between Washington and the EU.

Their alliance is also built on shared ideological currents, with both leaders rising on a platform of right-wing theory, cultural nationalism and border controls, among other issues. Meloni, for example, has established a similar diplomatic relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

But her relationship with Washington — and primarily with Trump — began to fray in April, when Trump publicly attacked Pope Leo XIV after he condemned U.S. military action against Iran. For Meloni, whose political identity is rooted in Catholicism and civilized conservatism, defending the papacy is a top priority because Italy is the most Catholic major European country and the Vatican is located within its borders.

Meloni called Trump’s attacks on the pope, who happens to be American, “unacceptable.” “I thought she had courage, but I was wrong,” Trump retorted, accusing her of not wanting to “help get rid of a nuclear Iran” and describing Nato as a “paper tiger.”

The G7 summit in Evian was also promoted as an opportunity to reset U.S.-European relations. Snippets of Trump and Meloni’s conversation were even seen as thawing. This is not the case.