The Trump-Meloni photo row escalated on Friday after Italy’s foreign minister cancelled a planned US visit over President Donald Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni “begged” for a photo at the G7 summit.
Meloni called Trump’s comments “made up” and said, “Neither I nor Italy ever beg,” after Italian channel La7 provided AFP with a transcript of the US president’s phone interview.
The Associated Press reported that Meloni also described the claim as “completely fabricated.”
Trump said Meloni had asked for a picture at the G7 summit in Evian, France, and that he agreed because he “felt sorry for her,” according to the La7 transcript cited in the source text.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called the remarks “grave and offensive” and cancelled his June 21-22 trip to the United States. AP reported that Tajani said the comments offended Meloni and Italy.
Italy’s Justice Minister Carlo Nordio said the comments caused a “painful injury” to Italy-US ties, while Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said such jokes helped no one, according to the source text.
The dispute followed the G7 summit in Evian, where Meloni had spoken of a “very positive climate” and “no friction” between Trump and other world leaders.
Read: Trump Iran Regime Change Remark Draws G7 Focus
Meloni has sought to act as a bridge between Europe and the Trump administration, but tensions grew during the Middle East war and after she defended Pope Leo XIV from Trump’s criticism, according to the source text
