Overview
- The dispute erupted at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, June 15–17, after President Trump told an Italian journalist that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni "begged" for a photo and Meloni publicly denied the account.
- On Truth Social, Trump expanded his attack by accusing Italy and other NATO allies of failing to confront Iran’s "very serious Nuclear Threat," saying the U.S. has shouldered disproportionate defence costs.
- Italy has pushed back: Prime Minister Meloni called Trump’s remarks "completely fabricated," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelled a planned U.S. trip, and Defence Minister Guido Crosetto stressed the bilateral bond remains "deep and very solid."
- Crosetto confirmed Italian minehunters in Djibouti are on standby for strictly humanitarian demining tasks if parliament approves deployment, noting any combat support would require separate authorization.
- The public spat overlaps with active U.S.–Iran technical talks and follows earlier Italian limits on U.S. use of at least one Sicilian base, creating practical risks for logistics, burden‑sharing and NATO coordination if tensions persist.