Meloni demands – Giorgia Meloni demanded that Donald Trump stop what she called “constant, unprovoked attacks” on her character, replying to his claim that she repeatedly asked for a picture with him during the G7 in France.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni fired back at Donald Trump after he accused her of wanting attention during the G7 meeting in France.
In an Instagram post on Saturday, Meloni said Trump’s remarks were “senseless.” She wrote, “President Trump, these constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless.”
Meloni also directly addressed Trump’s claim about her motives. She said her popularity had “not helped” from being described as a friend and that it “does not depend on my relationship with you.” Instead. she wrote. “My popularity depends on my ability to defend Italy’s national interest. and that is exactly what I have always done.”.
She then pointed to the question of American military bases in Italy. writing that their use “is governed by agreements that we have always respected” and “cannot be violated as long as I am Prime Minister.” Meloni added. “Italy remains a sovereign nation. In any case, my popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours.”.
The dispute traces back to a Trump Truth Social post written after the world leaders attended the G7 Summit in France this week. In that post, Trump said Meloni “asked, over and over, for a picture with me” during the meeting.
Trump went on to argue that Meloni was “doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity. ” and he suggested it might be because she “turned down the United States of America. a Country that truly loves and protects Italy. when it came to denying Iran from obtaining or developing a Nuclear Weapon (But so did NATO. for that matter!).”.
He also claimed Meloni “wouldn’t even let us use Italy’s landing strips or runways,” calling it a “great logistical inconvenience.” In the same post, he said the U.S. contributes “hundreds of Billions of Dollars a year to protect Italy, and other ‘so-called’ NATO Allies.”
Trump further wrote that, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, Meloni wanted to “be friends again in order to get her ‘numbers up.’ No thanks!!!”
The back-and-forth lands in a wider political backdrop: Trump’s first and second terms have been marked by incidences of increased aggression against women in positions of power. The article cited remarks made to and about female reporters, as well as remarks involving Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris.
Giorgia Meloni Donald Trump Instagram Truth Social G7 France Italian prime minister American military bases in Italy national interest NATO Iran nuclear