Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has angrily accused Donald Trump of telling a 'completely made up' story about her, hitting out at the US president for pandering to enemies of the West.
Trump told an Italian TV channel that Meloni had 'begged' him to take a photo with her at a G7 summit, a claim she vehemently denied. Video from the event in France showed the two leaders deep in conversation, but Trump suggested he had merely indulged her.
'She's probably happy I talked to her. I didn't have to talk to her,' Trump was quoted as saying by La7 TV channel. '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.'
Meloni said she was 'astonished' by his comments and accused him of showing greater respect to enemies of the West than to established allies.
'Donald Trump's statements are completely made up. I am frankly astonished. I don't know why the president of the United States behaves like this towards his allies: it is not the first time, moreover,' she said.
'I can only say it is disappointing that he does not show the same determination with the enemies of the West and of the United States, whose leaders he instead treats with far greater indulgence. There is one thing he should remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg.'
Meloni was once a close ally of Trump and the only European leader to attend his inauguration in 2025. However, they fell out after she backed Pope Leo when Trump lashed out at the Pontiff over his condemnation of the Iran war. Trump was also angered by Meloni's unwillingness to back the Middle East conflict, accusing her of 'lacking courage'.
