US president and Italian prime minister trade barbs in unprecedented diplomatic blowout
Rome: President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni exchanged barbed wire for a second day in an unprecedented outburst between the two countries’ leaders.
One social media sharing throughout the nightTrump continued to insist, as he did on Friday, that Meloni asked him for photos “repeatedly” at this week’s G7 meeting.
“Italy is in bad shape, unpopularly, probably because it has turned down the United States, a country that truly loves and protects Italy, when it comes to denying Iran from acquiring or developing Nuclear Weapons (But so does NATO for that matter!),” Trump wrote.
He added: “Now the US, after defeating Iran militarily, wants to be friends again to increase its ‘numbers.’ No thanks!!!”
Meloni quickly hit back, saying in a post on Instagram that “constant, unprovoked attacks are pointless.”
“As for my popularity, being your friend certainly didn’t help with that, and it doesn’t depend on my relationship with you either. My popularity depends on my ability to defend Italy’s national interests, and that’s exactly what I’ve always done,” Meloni said.
“Italy remains a sovereign nation. In any case, my popularity is none of your business,” he wrote. “I suggest you focus on yourself.”
The rift between the two powerful leaders comes at a time when Trump’s relations with Europe have long been frayed, particularly by the U.S. administration’s trade policy toward the continent, the president’s ongoing threats to seize control of Greenland, Denmark’s self-governing territory, and Trump’s decision to attack Iran.
At the just-concluded G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, Trump struck a warmer tone towards other European leaders in the coalition who stand behind his interim agreement to end the war in Iran. However, tensions were expected to emerge in full force again when Trump went to Türkiye for the annual NATO summit next month.
Meloni opposed the Iran war from the beginning, but as energy prices increased, he voiced his criticism even louder. In March, Italy rejected the United States’ use of an air base in Sicily for combat operations during the war, citing rules dating back to the 1950s.
Earlier this year, Meloni criticized Pope Benedict XIV, saying the president’s remarks criticizing the pope for his opposition to the war were “unacceptable.” He also defended Leo. This led Trump to say he was “shocked” and unnerved by her.
Trump’s initial comments were broadcast on Italy’s La7 network on Friday. A reporter asked the president about Ukraine, but Trump brought up Meloni and made a claim about the photo. La7 said Trump told her he didn’t have to take a photo with her, but felt sorry for her and agreed. The broadcaster posted a dubbed version of the speech online but did not release the original English audio.
Meloni added to his initial reaction by saying it was “regrettable” that Trump did not have “the same resolve as the enemies of the West, the enemies of the United States, and the leaders to whom he is much more tolerant.”
In the discussion on the subject Conservative subreddit on RedditMany of these views, often a cornerstone of Trump support, have sided with Meloni in the debate.
“I love Trump but this is another deranged outburst. He was the only European in attendance” Trump’s inauguration We’re back in 2025,” said one commenter.
Another said: “Italians are actually rightfully angry about this, and they should be.”
A third said: “Mr. President. Stop, just stop. There are times when you need to be quiet. Many of the comments you and the Vice President have made this week have been counterproductive.”
via Bloomberg
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Caitlin Fitzsimmons is the environment and climate correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald. He was previously a social affairs reporter and Money editor.Connect via email.
