Overview
- Video and photos from the NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday showed visibly awkward encounters between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, including an uneasy handshake and moments where Trump appeared to walk past her.
- The public feud escalated earlier when Trump accused Meloni of 'begging' for a G7 photo and posted an edited image of her on Truth Social with the caption 'RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED,' a claim Meloni rejected.
- Meloni used a post-summit press conference to say she has 'no regrets' about courting Trump and to state clearly that Italy will not take part in military attacks on Iran.
- The row has already produced concrete operational friction: Rome denied U.S. aircraft use of the Sigonella base in March and the dispute has led to cancelled ministerial visits and diplomatic pushback.
- Once seen as close allies, the leaders still share some domestic policy affinities, but the public spat complicates NATO discussions over basing, logistics and alliance unity and could affect future Italy–U.S. cooperation.