Italy on Monday criticised US President Donald Trump over his latest social media attack targeting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni ahead of this week’s NATO summit. Senior Italian ministers sought to play down the impact of the remarks on bilateral ties, stressing that relations between countries should endure beyond comments made by individual political leaders.

Trump on Sunday posted a doctored image on his Truth Social platform that appeared to show Meloni looking at him adoringly. The image was accompanied by the words “Restraining Order Needed,” drawing criticism from Italian officials. Meloni did not personally respond to the latest post.

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said people come and go but relations between countries must endure. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also expressed confidence that transatlantic ties extended far beyond individual comments, signalling that Rome did not want the latest dispute to damage its broader relationship with Washington.

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The latest controversy follows earlier criticism directed at Meloni by Trump after last month’s G7 summit. Trump claimed that the Italian Prime Minister had begged him for a photograph and said he agreed only because he felt sorry for her. He also accused Meloni of trying to repair relations with Washington for domestic political reasons after Italy did not support US action against Iran.

Meloni responded strongly at the time, describing the repeated attacks as unprovoked and senseless. She also suggested that her friendship with Trump had not helped her popularity and told the US President to focus on his own. The exchange marked a visible shift in a relationship that had previously appeared politically close.

Meloni had positioned herself as a European leader capable of maintaining strong ties with Trump while also representing European interests, but she has increasingly distanced herself from him. The latest dispute comes ahead of a NATO meeting in Ankara, with Trump continuing to criticise European members of the 32-country alliance and increasing pressure on transatlantic relations.

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