A growing diplomatic feud between U.S. President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni intensified on Saturday after the Italian leader accused Trump of launching “constant, unprovoked” attacks against her and Italy.
The latest exchange marks one of the sharpest public confrontations between Trump and a European leader once regarded as one of his closest political allies on the continent.
The dispute began after Trump claimed in an interview with Italian broadcaster La7 that Meloni had “begged” him for a photograph during the recent G7 summit in Evian, France.
Meloni swiftly rejected the allegation, describing it as completely fabricated and expressing shock that the U.S. president would speak that way about a longstanding ally.
Rather than backing down, Trump escalated the dispute in a lengthy Truth Social post, insisting that Meloni had repeatedly sought a photograph with him during the summit.
He also suggested that the Italian leader was attempting to rebuild ties with Washington for domestic political reasons and claimed her popularity in Italy was declining.
Trump further criticized Italy’s refusal to allow U.S. military operations linked to the Iran conflict to use Italian facilities, reviving complaints about NATO burden-sharing and American military spending on European allies.
Meloni responded forcefully through social media, saying her popularity was not dependent on Trump’s approval and defending Italy’s decisions as matters of national sovereignty.
“Being your friend certainly has not helped it, nor does it depend on my relationship with you,” she said.
“My popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours.”
The fallout has triggered anger across Italy’s political establishment.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelled a planned visit to the United States, while senior government officials warned that the dispute risked damaging historic ties between Rome and Washington.
The clash is particularly striking because Meloni had spent much of the past two years cultivating a close relationship with Trump and was often viewed as one of his most reliable allies in Europe.
She had repeatedly sought to position herself as a bridge between Washington and European capitals amid growing geopolitical tensions.
Only days earlier, the two leaders appeared to have eased tensions during meetings on the sidelines of the G7 summit, publicly insisting that relations remained cordial despite disagreements over Iran and broader foreign policy issues.
Analysts say the latest dispute highlights widening differences between Washington and several European allies on issues ranging from the Middle East to NATO responsibilities.
With neither side showing signs of retreat, the controversy has evolved from a personal disagreement into a broader diplomatic challenge for Italy-U.S. relations.
