Meloni slams claims that she ‘begged’ to take photo with President Trump

The Italian government on Friday shut down a row over US President Donald Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni “begged” to take a photo with him during a recent G7 summit, in a backlash that suggests Italy, a longtime European ally of the United States, is tired of Trump’s boasts and criticism.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani abruptly canceled a trip to the United States scheduled for this weekend, calling Trump’s claims “serious and offensive” against Meloni and all of Italy.

Meloni posted a video calling Trump’s claims “completely fabricated” and expressing surprise that anyone would make something like that about an ally.

“Neither Italy nor I beg,” she said sharply.

President Trump made the comments in an interview broadcast on the La7 network on Friday. La7’s correspondent was asking President Trump about Ukraine when Trump brought up Meloni, and the conversation turned to the just-concluded G7 meeting in Evian-les-Bains, France. Meloni and Trump were also photographed sitting together on a small couch and talking in several scenes.

According to La7, President Trump said Meloni “begged” to take the photo. Trump said he was under no obligation to do so, but said he sympathized with her and agreed, La7 said. The broadcaster posted a dubbed version of the dialogue online, rather than the original English audio.

Trump’s behavior highlighted how his alliance with Meloni, long considered one of his closest friends in Europe, is fracturing over issues such as the Iran war, European tariffs and complaints about those who oppose him.

He turned on Meloni in April after he refused to support the Iran war, and defended Pope Leo XIV when President Trump slammed the pope.

But Ms Meloni’s strong reaction on Friday suggests she is no longer afraid of Mr Trump’s verbal attacks – attacks that could actually work in her favor in a country where public opinion against the US president has cooled, said Lorenzo Castellani, a political scientist at Rome’s Luis Guido Carli University.

“In a way, this was an advantage for Giorgia Meloni, in the sense that until a few months ago she was being accused of being something of a Trump vassal in Europe,” he said.

Meloni said in the video that he was responding to Trump’s claims because “certain things deserve immediate attention.”

“What Donald Trump said is completely fabricated. Frankly, I’m surprised,” she said. “I don’t understand why the president of the United States would behave like this towards his allies. After all, this is not the first time something like this has happened.”

This is an apparent reference to an interview Trump gave to the Italian daily Corriere della Sera in April, in which he criticized Meloni for refusing to support the US-Israel war in Iran. Meloni did not respond publicly at the time. By Friday, she seemed to have had enough of his boasting and domineering.

“I can only say that it’s unfortunate that he doesn’t show the same determination towards the enemies of the West and the enemies of the United States, whereas he is far more tolerant of leaders,” Meloni said on Friday. “But there is one thing he must remember: neither Italy nor I will beg.”

The White House did not respond to a request for comment on Meloni’s remarks.

Meloni sought to further strengthen the long-standing strong relationship between the United States and Italy at the beginning of President Trump’s second term, positioning himself as a “bridge” between the United States and the European Union. She was the only EU head of state to attend his inauguration.

But relations have soured over the US war on Iran, which Meloni has called illegal, and President Trump’s stance on Ukraine, which Italy strongly supports. Also at issue are President Trump’s tariffs and the United States’ strong support for Israel over the Gaza war.

By Friday afternoon, voices of solidarity with Meloni were pouring in from across government and political circles, including a phone call from President Sergio Mattarella, Italy’s respected head of state.

Transport Minister Matteo Salvini posted: “Those who attack @GiorgiaMeloni attack us all.”

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio cited the sacrifices of American troops in World War II when highlighting the damage President Trump has caused to U.S.-Italian relations.

“Thousands of crosses marking the graves of American soldiers who died liberating us from Nazi-fascist dictatorship did not deserve such a painful blow to our fraternal bonds,” Nordio said on the X show.

Defense Minister Guido Crossetto said he believed Mr. Meloni would not beg someone for a photo “even if he was not threatened.”

Tajani was scheduled to travel to the United States on Sunday to participate in the Italy-US Business Forum in Miami, during which he was scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to a statement from the US State Department.

Meloni and Trump are off to a strong start, with the two leaders aligned ideologically on many issues. As leader of a far-right party, Meloni supports curbing immigration and promoting traditional values.

A few weeks before Trump’s inauguration in 2025, Meloni met with him at his Mar-a-Lago retreat, a visit that she said “exceeded my expectations.” At the time, she said it was “an opportunity to confirm a relationship that promises to be very strong.”

In the months that followed, President Trump repeatedly praised her, calling her “amazing,” “incredibly” beautiful and a friend.

However, clear differences emerged regarding Ukraine. Meloni recently issued a stern warning against US threats to take over Greenland by force, saying he did not believe the US would go that far and that Italy would never support such a move in any case.

Meloni also has support from an unlikely ally in Europe. Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was asked about the back-and-forth on the sidelines of a European Council meeting on Friday.

“With Meloni, it’s first and foremost my solidarity,” he told reporters. “Secondly, not only did I say this publicly in response to your question, but I also expressed to her privately during a European Council meeting that we are fully united against this attack, which is neither political nor personal…I really don’t know what to make of it.”