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Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attended the G7 meeting with President Trump and other world leaders in Evian, France
A diplomatic storm erupted this week after remarks attributed to President Donald Trump sparked a sharp exchange between Washington and Rome.
Speaking by telephone with Daniele Compatangelo, Washington correspondent for Italy's La7 television network, Trump commented on his recent meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian. The encounter was their first since tensions emerged over the U.S. president's criticism of Pope Leo XIV.
Trump reportedly said, "I wasn't obligated to talk to her. She begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a photo with me so badly. I might not have even done it, but I felt sorry for her."
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attended the G7 meeting with President Trump and other world leaders in Evian, France
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Bad Behavior
Trump also broadened his criticism to the European Union, condemning its policies on energy and immigration. He described wind power as a failure and argued that European leaders had "got everything wrong on energy and everything wrong on immigration."
Prime Minister Meloni responded swiftly in a video posted to her social media channels, dismissing Trump's account as entirely false.
"Donald Trump's statements are totally fabricated. I am frankly appalled," Meloni said. "Italy does not beg, and neither do I."
The Italian leader expressed disappointment with the White House, adding, "I do not know why the U.S. president behaves this way toward allies. It is not the first time this has happened. I can only regret that he does not show the same determination toward the enemies of the West."
President Trump pictured at the recent G7 meeting with France's President Emmanuel Macron and wife, Brigitte
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Italy Stands With Meloni
The dispute quickly drew bipartisan support for Meloni across Italy's political spectrum. The strongest response came from Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, who announced the cancellation of a planned diplomatic visit to Miami, where he had been scheduled to attend a bilateral business forum with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
"The grave and offensive words of President Trump toward Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy," Tajani wrote on social media. "For this reason, I have decided to cancel my visit to the United States, which was scheduled for June 21 and 22."
Giorgia Meloni and Donald Trump were all smiles when they met at the White House last year
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Editor's Note:
The web site for Prime Minister Meloni is https://www.governo.it/en
The web site for the White House is https://www.whitehouse.gov
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