Overview
- President Donald Trump posted on Sunday on Truth Social an image of Giorgia Meloni from the recent G7 with the caption "RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED," renewing a months‑long public dispute between the two leaders.
- Fact‑checkers reported the widely shared 'gazing' picture was digitally edited and derived from a G7 video rather than an unaltered original still.
- The row began after Trump said at the G7 that Meloni had 'begged' him for a photo, a claim she called "completely made up," and it has prompted diplomatic pushback including Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani cancelling a planned U.S. visit last month.
- Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto urged preserving the U.S.‑Italy relationship and offered no reaction to the new post, while opposition figures and commentators publicly criticised Trump for the attacks.
- With both leaders due to attend the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7–8, diplomats warn the personal spat and disputes over U.S. use of Italian bases for Iran‑related operations could create awkwardness and strain allied coordination.