Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has strongly rejected remarks made by US President Donald Trump, calling his claims about her conduct at the G7 summit completely false. The exchange has triggered a diplomatic row between the two allies. Italy has also expressed formal displeasure over the comments.
Trump had claimed in a television interview that Meloni asked repeatedly for a photo with him during the G7 meeting in France. He also suggested that he engaged with her out of courtesy, implying she sought attention. The remarks quickly circulated in international media, drawing criticism from Italian officials.
Responding sharply, Meloni said she was “astonished” by Trump’s statements and described them as fabricated. She questioned why the US president would treat allied leaders in such a manner, adding that such behavior was not new in his public remarks. Her response marked a rare direct rebuttal to Washington’s leadership.
Meloni further said that it was disappointing Trump showed more restraint toward adversaries than toward Western allies. She emphasized that Italy maintains dignity in international relations and does not depend on anyone’s approval or favor. Her statement was widely interpreted as a strong assertion of Italy’s diplomatic independence.
The dispute has already begun to affect diplomatic ties, with Italy’s foreign minister canceling a planned visit to the United States. Officials said the comments were offensive to Italy as a whole, signaling growing irritation within Rome over the controversy.