ROME: A diplomatic dispute between the United States and Italy intensified on Friday after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni rejected comments attributed to US President Donald Trump, while Italy’s foreign minister cancelled a planned visit to Washington in protest.
The latest row marks a further deterioration in relations between Trump and one of his closest European allies, despite recent efforts to ease tensions during the G7 summit in France.
According to Italian broadcaster La7 TV, Trump claimed Meloni had “begged” him for a photograph during the summit and that he agreed only because he felt sorry for her.
“She begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her,” Trump reportedly said.
Meloni Rejects Trump’s Claims
Meloni swiftly dismissed the comments, describing them as entirely false in a video message posted on X.
“Donald Trump’s statements are completely fabricated. I’m frankly shocked. I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way towards his own allies, and it’s not the first time it’s happened,” she said.
Io e l’Italia non imploriamo mai. pic.twitter.com/sTpKlqWB67
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) June 19, 2026
The Italian leader also criticised Trump’s approach toward Western allies.
“I can only say that it’s a shame he doesn’t have the same determination with the enemies of the West, with the enemies of the United States, with leaderships with which he instead appears much more accommodating,” she added.
“But you must remember one thing: Italy and I never beg.”
Italy Cancels Diplomatic Engagement
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani described Trump’s reported remarks as “offensive” and announced he was cancelling a planned trip to the United States.
Tajani had been scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and attend the Italy-US Business, Investment, Science and Innovation Forum in Miami next week.
The forum was later cancelled.
According to the US State Department, Rubio and Tajani were expected to discuss economic security, critical minerals and broader bilateral cooperation.
Trump Doubles Down
In an interview with NBC News later on Friday, Trump appeared to reinforce his criticism of the Italian premier.
“I don’t want her as a fan because she was not there, along with the NATO group, having to do with the Strait,” Trump said, referring to what he viewed as insufficient support during the Iran war.
The White House and the US State Department have not publicly commented on the dispute.
Strained Alliance
The clash is the latest sign of strain between Trump and Meloni, who has often been regarded as Washington’s closest Western European partner under Trump’s second presidency.
Meloni was the only European leader to attend Trump’s second inauguration, and the two have frequently aligned on issues including immigration controls and national sovereignty.
However, differences emerged over the conflict with Iran, with Meloni declining to participate in the war and previously criticising Trump’s attacks on Pope Leo XIV over the pontiff’s opposition to the conflict.
Trump has also accused Italy of failing to provide sufficient support to the United States during the war.
Despite their longstanding political alignment, the latest exchange underscores growing tensions between Washington and several European allies as disagreements over security and foreign policy continue to widen
