SouthernWorldwide.com – Former President Donald Trump has reignited a public dispute with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, accusing her of repeatedly seeking a photograph with him at the G7 Summit and subsequently criticizing her for not adequately supporting the U.S. during the conflict in Iran.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to state that Meloni had “asked, over and over, for a picture with me during the G-7 meeting in France.” This assertion echoed comments he had previously made to an Italian publication.
In response, Meloni told Reuters that Trump’s claim was “completely made up” and that she was “astonished” by his behavior. She questioned why a U.S. president would act this way towards allies, noting it was not an isolated incident.
The former president further criticized Meloni for what he described as a failure to assist the United States during the height of the war in Iran several months prior. He suggested that her declining popularity in Italy might be linked to her refusal to support the U.S. in preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Trump expressed frustration that U.S. forces were denied access to Italian landing strips and runways, deeming it a “great logistical inconvenience.” Reports from The Guardian in March indicated that Italy had indeed denied the use of a Sicilian air base to U.S. warplanes carrying weapons destined for the campaign against Iran.
This is not the first time Trump has publicly criticized NATO allies for what he perceived as insufficient military support. He frequently targeted countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, and France.
Trump emphasized that Italy’s refusal to cooperate came despite significant U.S. financial contributions to the defense of Italy and other NATO members. He concluded his post by stating that after the U.S. had militarily defeated Iran, Meloni now sought renewed friendship to boost her own standing, a gesture he rejected.
Meloni later posted a detailed rebuttal on Instagram, condemning Trump’s “senseless” and “constant” attacks. She asserted that her popularity was not dependent on her relationship with him but on her ability to defend Italy’s national interests.
Regarding the use of American military bases in Italy, Meloni stated that their operations are governed by existing agreements that she has consistently respected and would not violate. She stressed that Italy is a sovereign nation and suggested Trump focus on his own popularity.
Historically, Trump and Meloni shared a rapport, with Meloni being among the few European Union leaders invited to his inauguration in January 2025. Both share conservative viewpoints, emphasizing traditional family values and often expressing skepticism towards progressive ideologies.
However, their relationship reportedly began to strain with the imposition of Trump’s global tariffs. Despite Meloni’s efforts to secure trade concessions for Italy, a 15% tariff on most EU imports remained in place.
In a notable instance in April, Meloni issued a rare public rebuke of Trump’s comments regarding Pope Leo’s foreign policy on Iran, calling them “unacceptable.”
Prior to the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran on Wednesday, which aimed to halt hostilities for 60 days, Meloni had consistently maintained that Italy would not participate in the war. She explicitly stated this position to the Italian Senate in March.
Nevertheless, Meloni has consistently voiced concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and has advocated for diplomatic measures to curb the regime’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. At the previous year’s G7 Summit, she emphasized a collective agreement that Iran should not acquire nuclear weapons and that negotiations were crucial to prevent this outcome.
U.S.-Iran talks scheduled for Friday were temporarily postponed due to renewed fighting in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group. The talks were later expected to resume in Switzerland after a ceasefire was established between Israel and Hezbollah.
A critical component of the memorandum of understanding signed by Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian included an end to military operations across all fronts, including Lebanon, as a prerequisite for the agreement’s continued validity.
