Meloni hits back at Trump’s controversial comments following G7 summit
Photo: US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (Getty Images)
Following the G7 summit held in France on June 16, a dispute erupted between US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, ANSA reports.
Trump claimed that Meloni had allegedly begged him to take a photo with her during the G7 summit.
"She's probably happy that I spoke to her. I didn't have to speak to her. She begged me to take a picture with her! She wanted a photo with me so badly. I wouldn't have done it, but I felt sorry for her," the American leader said in an interview with Italian television channel La7.
The Italian Prime Minister later released a statement on her social media accounts, denying Trump's remarks.
Meloni expressed outrage over the US President's comments and his attitude toward allies.
"Donald Trump's statements are completely fabricated. Frankly, I am shocked. I do not know why the President of the United States treats his allies this way. Moreover, this is not the first time," Meloni said.
She also expressed regret that the US President is not as decisive when dealing with America's enemies.
"I can only say that it is disappointing that he does not show the same determination toward the enemies of the West and the United States, whose leaders he instead treats with far greater leniency. There is one thing he should remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg," the Italian Prime Minister stressed.
Trump's comments about Meloni also angered other Italian officials.
In particular, Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled his visit to the United States, which had been scheduled for June 21–22.
"President Trump's serious and offensive remarks about Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni insult all of Italy. For this reason, I have decided to cancel my visit to the United States," he wrote on X.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto described the US President's statement as another blunder by Trump.
"I cannot imagine Giorgia Meloni asking anyone for a photograph, even under pressure. What I can imagine is how much effort it took her to set aside what Trump said a few weeks ago for the sake of Italy, Europe, and the West. And I can imagine how much restraint it will take for her not to comment on this new blunder by the President of the United States in the way it deserves," Crosetto said.
G7 summit
On June 16, France hosted the latest G7 summit.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in the meeting. US President Donald Trump also attended.
Following the summit, the G7 countries issued a joint statement saying they had reached agreement on a number of issues related to Ukraine.
Among other things, the parties agreed to increase deliveries of air defense equipment to Ukraine, including additional air defense systems and interceptor missiles.
It was also reported that ahead of the summit, on the evening of June 15, G7 leaders gathered for dinner and jointly sought to convince Trump that Russia was losing ground on the battlefield while Ukraine was gaining the upper hand. Their key message was that Moscow was acting out of desperation.
In addition, Zelenskyy personally showed Trump photographs of the damaged Dormition Cathedral following a Russian strike, and the images reportedly left a strong impression on the US President.
The following day, Trump strongly backed Ukraine in the G7 joint declaration.
He also praised Ukraine for its successes in the war against Russia.
Media outlets further reported that Trump plans to ask US defense companies to manufacture weapons under license in Europe and Ukraine.
Against the backdrop of the US President's new statements on the war in Ukraine following the G7 summit, Moscow claimed that European leaders had been filling Trump with "harmful ideas."
