Trump Claims Meloni Requested Photo At G7; Meloni Denies Allegation Publicly

A public exchange between US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has exposed fresh tensions between the two leaders, with Trump claiming Meloni "begged" him for a joint photograph during this week's G7 summit in France. Meloni swiftly rejected the allegation, describing the remarks as "fully made up" and expressing surprise at the comments directed toward a key US ally.

Trump made the claim during an interview with Italian broadcaster La7, where he said Meloni was eager to be photographed with him and that he only agreed because he "felt sorry for her." The remarks came after Trump himself initiated a discussion about the Italian leader while responding to questions from an Italian journalist following the G7 summit held in Evian, France.

Responding from the European Union leaders' summit in Brussels, Meloni issued a strong denial through a post on Instagram. "Italy and I never beg," she wrote, adding that Trump's statements were entirely fabricated. She also questioned why the US president repeatedly adopts such an approach toward allied nations while appearing more accommodating toward leaders considered adversaries of the West.

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During the same interview, Trump criticised European policies on immigration and energy, arguing that Europe would struggle to recover unless those issues were addressed. He also renewed his criticism of wind energy projects, describing them as unsuccessful, while claiming immigration policies across the continent had become a disaster.

Despite the latest war of words, Meloni had earlier insisted that her relationship with Trump remained unchanged following their meeting at the G7 summit. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, she said there was no need to revisit past disagreements, noting that both leaders possess strong personalities and remain committed to defending their respective national interests while understanding each other's perspectives.

Relations between the two leaders have been strained for months after Italy declined a US request to use an air base in Sicily for combat operations involving Iran. Meloni also criticised Trump's remarks about the Pope as "unacceptable," prompting Trump to accuse her of lacking courage. The latest exchange suggests that differences between the two leaders remain unresolved despite their recent face-to-face meeting.

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