Italy's Meloni criticizes Trump's “consistent, unrepentant” attacks on trade leaders.
President Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni continued to trade barbs on Saturday, after Meloni earlier said he was “surprised” by Mr. Trump reportedly told an Italian network that he “wanted my picture badly” at the G7 summit in France earlier in the week, and only agreed because he “felt sorry for him.”
“Maybe he's happy that I talked to him. I didn't have to talk to him,” Italian TV channel La 7 quoted Mr. The network released only an Italian-dubbed version of the interview, so CBS News could not verify his comments.
“He begged me to take a picture with him. He wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn't have taken it, but I felt sorry for him,” he said, according to the station.
In a video posted online on Friday, Meloni, a conservative politician seen as the president's ally in Europe, responded that Mr. Earlier, Meloni said that there was “very good weather” and “no conflict” between Mr. Trump and other leaders in the G7. The video showed the two deep in conversation during the event.
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“I don't know why the American president behaves in this way with his allies,” said Meloni. “I can only say that it is sad that he does not show the same determination as the enemies of the West, which are the enemies of the United States, and the leaders, on the contrary, are closely aligned with them.”
Mr. Trump criticized Meloni again on Saturday on Truth Social, saying the Italian leader “asked, repeatedly, for a photo” during the summit. He also criticized Meloni for not supporting Italy during the Iran war, which he criticized all of America's NATO allies.
“He is not doing well in Italy with his level of popularity, maybe because he rejected the United States of America, the Country that really loves and protects Italy, when it comes to denying Iran to get or develop a Nuclear Weapon (But so does NATO, for that matter!),” Mr. disorder.”
Meloni responded on Instagram, telling Mr. Trump said that “this relentless, unrelenting attack makes no sense.”
“As for my popularity, being your friend certainly didn't help, and it doesn't depend on my relationship with you. My popularity takes care that I can protect the interests of the Italian nation, and that is exactly what I have been doing,” Meloni wrote, alongside a screenshot of Mr Trump's Truth Social post.
He defended his decision to prevent the US from using Italian roads and runways, saying their use is “governed by agreements that we have always respected, and which cannot be violated as long as I am Prime Minister.”
“Italy remains an independent nation,” he added. “Anyway, my popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours.”
The messenger cancels the planned visit amid the crisis
The comments of Mr. Trump on the 7th caused the Italian government to cancel the trip planned by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani of the US which was scheduled for June 21 and 22.
“The critical and offensive words of President Trump … angered all of Italy,” Tajani wrote on Friday in an X post.
Meloni is one of the staunch supporters of Mr. Trump in Europe. He was the only European leader to come to Washington for a second inauguration, and his right-wing politics made him a more logical partner for the White House than other leaders of major European economies, some of whom have been critical of Mr.
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But the war in Iran has put a strain on their relationship. Meloni also called the criticism of Mr Pope Leo XIV's views on war “It's not acceptable.”
“I'm shocked by him,” the president answered in an interview with Italy's Corriere della Sera. “I thought you were brave, but I was wrong.”
