Overview
- President Donald Trump said in a La7 interview that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni “begged” him for a photo at the G7, a claim Meloni has called completely fabricated.
- Meloni responded on social media and in a video message denying the account, saying neither she nor Italy would ever beg and urging Trump to focus on substance rather than personal attacks.
- Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called Trump’s words “serious and insulting” and canceled his planned June 21–22 visit to the United States as a direct diplomatic response.
- Defence Minister Guido Crosetto also rejected the president’s claim as implausible, and Italian leaders framed the reactions as defending national dignity while signaling displeasure to Washington.
- The episode builds on earlier strains between the leaders over U.S. requests to use a Sicilian base and disagreements over the pope, and it could complicate cooperation on military and diplomatic matters between the two NATO allies.