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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is seeking to avoid an escalation in her public dispute with US President Donald Trump, as senior Italian officials say Rome will not respond to his provocations in order to protect the bilateral relationship. The latest tension comes just before a NATO summit in Ankara, where the two leaders are expected to meet.

Trump appeared to reignite the feud this week by posting on Truth Social a doctored picture of Meloni looking up at him, with the caption "RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED." The post followed weeks of public accusations between the two, after earlier remarks by Trump about Meloni and about the pope drew sharp responses.

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Reports describe the dispute as a shift from what was once a close relationship. Meloni was considered one of Trump's closest allies in Europe, and some had even dubbed her the "Trump whisperer," as reported by ABC Australia. The pair's break became public last month when Trump told Italian TV channel La7 that Meloni had "begged" him to take a photo with her at a G7 summit in France. Meloni denied the claim and accused him of fabricating the story.

The latest provocation raised questions about how Meloni would react, potentially raising tensions among allies at the NATO gathering in Ankara. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told La Stampa newspaper that Rome had no plans to take the bait and wanted to maintain good relations with the US regardless of who was president.

"Trump speaks for himself. We have a US president who loves to provoke, especially on social media. We have decided to stop responding to these remarks," Tajani said, as quoted by Dawn.

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto struck a similar tone when asked about a possible response, according to the same report. Meloni's office declined to comment on how she would behave when meeting Trump in Ankara, but a source close to her, who declined to be named, ruled out the possibility that the Italian leader would snub Trump, saying she knew how to handle such situations and would instead greet him "with a smile."

Meanwhile, Italy's Il Foglio newspaper mocked Trump's jibe on its front page, a sign that the dispute is resonating domestically.

Key claims

  • Italy will not respond further to Trump's attacks on Meloni, ministers said, pledging to protect bilateral ties.
  • Trump posted a doctored picture of Meloni on Truth Social, with the caption "RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED."
  • Meloni called Trump's words about the pope "unacceptable," though the exact remarks were not detailed in the reports.
  • Trump accused Meloni of "lacking courage," according to one report.
  • Meloni's office declined to comment on how she would behave when meeting Trump in Ankara.
  • Meloni has been facing serious challenges at home, including a recent referendum loss on judicial reform she had championed.
  • The rise of a political party further to the right has been trying to lure her supporters away.

Perspectives

Italian government: Italy will not respond to Trump's provocations, with ministers saying they want to maintain good relations with the US. A source close to Meloni said she would greet Trump "with a smile" at the summit.

Analysts: The public spat may help Meloni domestically, as opinion polls show a majority of Italians no longer find the US to be a reliable ally. Gianni Riotta, vice chair of the Council for the United States and Italy, suggested Meloni may have wanted a public break-up to say "I'm against President Trump." Riccardo Alcaro, head of research at the International Affairs Institute in Rome, called the fallout "strategic electioneering on the part of Meloni," given her proximity to Trump has become an "electoral liability."