Trump Criticizes Italian Prime Minister Over G7 Photo and Iran Cooperation

President Donald Trump criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over a claimed request for a photo at the recent G7 summit. Trump stated that Meloni repeatedly asked for a picture and voiced dissatisfaction with Italy’s cooperation during the conflict with Iran.

This controversy escalated following an Italian interview where Trump asserted that Meloni “begged” for the photo at the G7 meeting in France. Meloni dismissed these claims as “completely invented.” The situation caused the Italian foreign minister to cancel a planned visit to the United States in a show of solidarity with Meloni.

While at Camp David, Trump wrote on his social media platform that Meloni sought a photo repeatedly during the G-7 meeting. He initially misspelled her name, which he later corrected. He criticized Meloni’s popularity in Italy, suggesting it might be due to Italy’s refusal to assist the United States in preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Trump added, “NATO also did this, by the way!”

Meloni responded with a statement directed at Trump, describing his attacks as “constant” and “unprovoked.” She remarked that her popularity doesn’t depend on her relationship with Trump but on her ability to defend Italy’s national interests. Meloni advised Trump to focus on his popularity instead.

Trump’s remarks initially aired on Italy’s La7 network. When asked about Ukraine, he mentioned Meloni and the photo incident, stating he wasn’t obligated to take a photo with her but did so out of sympathy, according to La7. The network released a dubbed version of the conversation but not the original English audio.

Trump also expressed frustration over Italy’s denial of U.S. use of its airfields during the Iran war, despite America’s leadership in NATO defense spending. This issue had been discussed before Trump’s meeting with NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte and the upcoming NATO summit in Turkey.

In March, Italy, a key logistical hub for the U.S., refused to allow U.S. bombers heading to the Middle East to use a Sicilian base without parliamentary approval. This decision reflected constitutional constraints and strong internal opposition to the war. Meloni has maintained that any use of Italian bases for offensive operations requires parliamentary approval.

Trump expressed his frustration with Meloni and suggested she wants to restore friendly relations, considering the initial agreement between the U.S. and Iran to end the conflict.