Tensions Rise Between Giorgia Meloni and Donald Trump After G7 Photo Dispute

Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, emphatically responded to President Donald Trump’s comments by stating, “I and Italy never beg.” Her response came after Trump mentioned that Meloni had “begged” him for a photo at the Group of Seven summit. Meloni labeled his claim as “totally fabricated.”

The controversy began when Trump told an Italian broadcaster, La7, that Meloni requested a photo during the leaders’ meeting in Evian-les-Bains, France. Trump remarked, “She wanted a photo with me so badly — I could have skipped it, but I felt sorry for her.” This comment was shared in a brief interview posted on the channel’s website.

Meloni, visibly upset, criticized Trump’s approach to international dealings. She suggested he treated Western allies with less respect compared to adversaries. “I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way with his own allies,” she said, indicating past incidents of similar nature.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned Trump’s remarks as “serious” and “offensive” to Italy, leading to the cancellation of his planned U.S. visit next week. Video footage from the summit showed Meloni and Trump engaged in conversation, but Trump described the meeting as something he allowed rather than pursued. “She’s probably happy I talked to her. I didn’t have to talk to her,” Trump said in the interview.

Only a dubbed version of the interview was publicized, with the original audio unreleased. Additional footage showed Meloni speaking animatedly while Trump listened.

Previously, Meloni was considered one of Trump’s strongest European allies, having attended his inauguration in January 2025 as the sole European leader. Their relationship was once marked by camaraderie, with Trump praising Meloni, who leads the right-wing Brothers of Italy party. He once described her efforts as “really taking Europe by storm.”

The recent conflict signals a significant decline in their relations. Earlier this year, Meloni rebuked Trump for criticizing Pope Leo XIV over statements about the Iran war. Trump retorted by questioning Meloni’s courage, highlighting the political rift between the former allies.