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G7 Photo Feud
President Donald Trump escalated his dispute with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by insisting she asked “over and over” for a photo with him during the Group of Seven meeting in France.
“Trump, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni feud online over G7 photo The prime minster has denied Trump's claims she "begged" for a photo”
Meloni rejected the claim and told Trump in an Instagram statement, “These constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless,” while adding that “My popularity is none of your concern.”
Trump also tied the photo row to his broader criticism of Italy’s stance on Iran, saying Meloni turned down the United States of America when it came to denying Iran from obtaining or developing a Nuclear Weapon.
The feud has been linked to Trump’s earlier interview with an Italian broadcaster, where he said Meloni “begged” for a photo and that he felt “sorry for her,” and it continued as both leaders traded posts on social media.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled a planned trip to the United States after Trump’s remarks, saying they were “serious and offensive” to “all of Italy.”
Tajani, Meloni, Trump
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he called off his visit to the United States planned for Sunday and Monday after Trump’s comments, adding that “President Trump's serious and offensive words towards Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy.”
In response to Trump’s latest claims, Meloni said on social media, “President Trump, these constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless,” and she also told him, “I suggest you focus on yours.”
Trump’s posts on Truth Social and his comments to Italian media framed the dispute around his allegation that Meloni sought the photo to boost domestic popularity, writing that she “wants to be friends again in order to get her ‘numbers up.’ No thanks!!!”.
The BBC reported that Meloni said Trump’s attacks were “senseless” and that her popularity depends on her ability to defend Italy’s national interest, while the dispute also included Trump’s complaint about Italy barring U.S. use of Italian air facilities.
NBC News described Meloni’s rebuttal to Trump’s “begged” claim as “totally fabricated,” and it quoted her saying, “I and Italy never beg.”
Diplomatic Fallout
The dispute has carried into diplomacy, with Tajani canceling a planned trip to the United States and the row described as deepening a spat that began this week with Trump’s interview with an Italian broadcaster.
“- Published Italy's Giorgia Meloni has again hit back at US President Donald Trump on social media after he questioned her political popularity and repeated his claim that she asked "over and over" for a photo together”
The Hill tied the escalation to Trump repeating his accusation that Meloni “begged” him for a photo at the Group of Seven summit earlier this week, while Meloni said on Friday that the characterization was “completely fabricated” and that she was “astounded.”
BBC reported that the continuing exchange highlighted a developing rift between the two countries since Trump’s military action against Iran this year, and it noted that Trump said Meloni caused “a great logistical inconvenience” by barring the U.S. from using Italian air facilities.
Meloni responded that the use of Italian bases “is government by agreements that we have always respected, and that cannot be violated as long as I am prime minister,” and she reiterated that Italy remains a sovereign nation.
The stakes in the sources were framed around the relationship between the two leaders and their handling of U.S.-Italy cooperation during the Iran war, with the feud unfolding after Trump and Meloni were pictured in close conversation at the G7 summit in France.
