Trump insists Italy’s Meloni sought photos with him to boost popularity
Key takeaways
- Trump had initially told Italian media on Thursday that Meloni “begged” him for a picture at the G7 summit in France, saying he agreed only because he “felt sorry for her”.
- Meloni responded that she was “stunned” by the “made-up” claim.
- But Trump fired back in his Saturday post, saying the Italian prime minister had asked “over and over” for a photograph.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
US president’s comments escalate a row between the once-close leaders that has emerged during the conflict with Iran.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo US President Donald Trump speaks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at a working lunch with G7 leaders in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 16 [Evelyn Hockstein/Pool via Getty Images]By AFPPublished On 20 Jun 202620 Jun 2026United States President Donald Trump has doubled down on criticism of Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, claiming she repeatedly sought photo opportunities with him at the recent G7 summit to bolster her domestic popularity.
Trump’s latest comments in a post on Truth Social on Saturday deepen a personal row between Trump and the right-wing Italian leader, who was long viewed as one of the US president’s top allies in Europe.