Meloni 'stunned' by Trump's comment she 'begged' for photo

Lead

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has publicly rejected US President Donald Trump's claim that she 'begged' him for a photograph at the recent G7 summit in France, calling his comments 'completely fabricated' and 'senseless'. The exchange has escalated into a rare public rift between two leaders who were once seen as close allies.

Trump's original remarks, made in an interview with Italian broadcaster La7, triggered a furious response from Meloni and led Italy's Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, to cancel a planned visit to the United States. Trump subsequently doubled down in a post on his Truth Social platform, accusing Meloni of asking 'over and over' for a photo and of seeking to repair relations for domestic political reasons.

Coverage comparison

Reports from multiple outlets agree on the core facts: Trump claimed Meloni asked for a photo at the G7 summit, Meloni denied it, and the dispute has expanded to include tensions over Iran and NATO. However, the framing differs across sources.

ABC Australia and TASS focused on Meloni's response, quoting her statement that she was 'frankly stunned' and that 'neither I nor Italy ever beg'. Al Jazeera, Dawn, Deutsche Welle, France 24, South China Morning Post, and The Hindu emphasised the diplomatic row and the cancellation of Tajani's visit.

BBC and South China Morning Post took a more analytical approach, highlighting how the row has opened a 'personal rift' between the two leaders and damaged Meloni's standing as a bridge between Europe and the Trump administration. Fox News, meanwhile, presented a different perspective, framing Meloni's escalation as a 'calculated political strategy' to boost her domestic standing ahead of Italy's 2027 general election.

While most sources describe Trump's remarks as unprovoked, Al Jazeera and others note his accusation that Meloni tried to repair relations after Italy failed to support US action against Iran. France 24 and South China Morning Post describe the dispute as 'escalating', a characterisation echoed in the later reports.

Key Claims

Trump's original comments: According to multiple reports, including ABC Australia and Al Jazeera, Trump told Italian channel La7 that Meloni had 'begged' him for a picture at the G7 summit, and he agreed only because he 'felt sorry for her'. These quotes were drawn from a dubbed version of the interview, as La7 did not release the original audio.

Meloni's denial: Meloni responded in a video posted on social media, calling Trump's account 'completely fabricated'. She said she was 'frankly stunned' and added, 'Neither I nor Italy ever beg.' In a subsequent Instagram post, she described Trump's continued attacks as 'senseless' and told him to 'focus on your own' popularity.

Cancellation of Tajani's visit: Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced he was cancelling a planned visit to the US scheduled for June 21-22, describing Trump's words as 'grave and offensive' and saying they 'offend the whole of Italy'. The cancellation was confirmed by multiple sources.

Trump's escalation: In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that Meloni had 'asked, over and over' for a picture and said she was 'doing poorly in Italy' with her level of popularity. He also accused her of refusing to support US military action and of trying to be friends again 'after the United States defeated Iran militarily'. His message ended with 'No thanks!!!'.

Meloni's popularity and strategy: Fox News quoted Italian political analysts suggesting Meloni's feud with Trump could boost her domestic standing. One analyst, Mattia Diletti, said the row yields 'no tangible consequences, other than an increase in her domestic and international standing'. Another, Giovanni Orsina, told the Financial Times that the row would offer a 'silver lining' for Meloni.

Relations between Italy and Iran: Several sources linked the dispute to Italy's refusal to support US military action, including the refusal to allow US aircraft to use Italian landing strips or runways. Trump's post revived his complaint that the US spends 'hundreds of billions of dollars' to protect Italy and other NATO allies. Meloni said the use of bases is governed by agreements that Rome has respected.

Perspectives

Italian Government: Meloni has rejected Trump's claims as false and has asserted that her popularity does not depend on her relationship with him. Her message to Trump was to 'focus on his own' ratings. Tajani cancelled the visit, calling Trump's words an insult to all of Italy.

US Government: President Trump has maintained his account of events and accused Meloni of self-interest. In a social media post, he wrote that she had asked 'over and over' for a photo and was seeking to 'repair relations' for domestic gain. He also raised broader concerns about NATO burden-sharing and Italy's refusal to support US action.