Italy reacted sharply after Donald Trump said Giorgia Meloni “begged” for a photo during the G7. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani abruptly cancelled a planned U.S. trip, calling the remarks “serious and offensive,” while Meloni posted a video saying the claims
ROME — Italy did not wait for another day to answer Donald Trump.
On Friday. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani abruptly cancelled a planned trip to the United States this weekend after Trump’s comments during a wide-ranging interview broadcast Friday morning on the La7 network. Tajani called Trump’s claims “serious and offensive” toward Premier Giorgia Meloni and toward “all of Italy.”.
The flashpoint was Trump’s assertion that Meloni “begged” him for a photo during the recent G7 summit. The remarks came as the conversation turned from Ukraine to Meloni after the La7 correspondent asked Trump about Ukraine. Meloni and Trump had been filmed speaking at several points during the G7 meeting in Evian-les-Bains. France. including alone on a small sofa.
According to La7, Trump said Meloni had “begged” him for a photo-op. Trump also said he wasn’t obliged to do it but that he felt sorry for her and agreed, La7 said. The broadcaster has a dubbed version of the conversation online, not the original English audio.
Meloni responded with a video posted Friday. calling Trump’s claims “completely fabricated.” She said she was answering because “certain things deserve an immediate response.” She added: “Donald Trump’s statements are completely fabricated. I am frankly stunned. ” and went on. “I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his own allies. After all, this isn’t the first time this has happened.”.
Near the end of her message, Meloni delivered the line that landed with particular force: “Italy and I do not beg.”
Her video appeared to be aimed at something she had left unanswered earlier. The episode looked like a reference to an interview Trump gave to Italian daily Corriere della Sera in April. in which he criticized Meloni’s refusal to back the U.S.-Israel war in Iran. Meloni did not respond publicly at the time. By Friday, it looked like she was done absorbing the latest round of boasts and broadsides.
“It’s a shame he doesn’t show the same resolve toward the enemies of the West, toward the enemies of the United States — toward leaders with whom he, on the other hand, is much more accommodating,” Meloni said Friday. “But there’s one thing he must remember: Italy and I do not beg.”
The pushback did not stop with the prime minister.
Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto also rebuked Trump’s claims. saying he didn’t believe Meloni would ever beg someone for a photo. “not even under threat.” Crosetto posted on X: “I can. however. imagine how much it cost her to set aside what Trump had said weeks ago. to serve the interests of Italy. of Europe. and of the West.” He added: “Jokes of this kind do no good to anyone: neither to the USA. nor to Italy. nor to the alliance.”.
For months, the relationship between the two allies has carried strain beneath the surface.
Meloni had initially sought to build on longstanding strong U.S.-Italian ties when Trump began his second mandate, positioning herself as a “bridge” between Washington and the European Union. She was also the lone EU head of state to attend his inauguration.
But fraying relations have followed disputes tied to the U.S. war in Iran, which Meloni has said was illegal, and Trump’s position on Ukraine, which Italy strongly supports. Trump’s tariffs and his strong U.S. support of Israel over its war in Gaza have also been points of contention.
Friday’s diplomatic slap was the latest turn—one that didn’t come as a quiet disagreement, but as a cancelled trip and a blunt message on video, centered on a single claim about dignity and who sought what at the table.
Italy Giorgia Meloni Antonio Tajani Donald Trump G7 Evian-les-Bains La7 Ukraine Iran tariffs Israel Gaza Guido Crosetto