Donald Trump has sparked an explosive diplomatic row with Italy after claiming Giorgia Meloni “begged” him for a photo at the G7 summit – a story the Italian prime minister has called “completely made up”.
In a phone interview with Italy’s La7 TV channel, the US president said of Meloni: “She’s probably happy I spoke to her. I didn’t have to. She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her.” The two leaders had been filmed deep in conversation on a small sofa at the G7 in Evian-les-Bains this week, and Meloni had earlier told reporters their relationship was “unchanged”.
“Trump claims Meloni 'begged' for a G7 photo; she denies it, sparking a diplomatic row and cancelled US visit.”
Meloni reacted with disbelief. In a video posted to her seven million Instagram followers, she said: “Donald Trump’s statements are completely made up. I am frankly astonished. I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way towards his allies. It is not the first time, moreover.” She added: “There is one thing he should remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg.”
The row has escalated rapidly. Italy’s foreign minister and deputy PM, Antonio Tajani, cancelled a trip to the US scheduled for 21 June, calling Trump’s remarks “serious and offensive” towards Meloni and all of Italy. “For this reason, I have decided to cancel my visit to the United States,” he wrote on X.
Meloni, who was the only European leader to attend Trump’s inauguration in 2025, had been seen as a potential bridge-builder with Washington. But their relationship has frayed since Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran. In April, Trump told Italian daily Corriere della Sera that Meloni “lacked courage” for opposing the conflict, and he later attacked Pope Leo XIV as “weak on crime”, which Meloni called “unacceptable”.
At the G7, European Council President António Costa joked the pair appeared “friends again”, to which Trump replied, “I’ve been abandoned”, drawing a laugh from Meloni who said, “No, you were not.”
Italian politicians have closed ranks. Interior Minister Matteo Salvini wrote: “Whoever attacks Giorgia Meloni attacks all of us.” Former prime minister Matteo Renzi called Trump’s comments “horrifying”, adding: “Enough with the MAGA hats and enough bridges to Trump: Italy deserves a leadership class that commands respect in the world.”
The White House has been approached for comment but has not yet responded.