'My popularity is none of your concern:' Meloni delivers blunt message to Trump
Giorgia Meloni (photo: Getty Images)
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called on US President Donald Trump to stop making baseless attacks and advised him to focus on his own popularity instead.
Dispute over popularity and Italy's interests
Meloni stressed that Trump's public remarks were pointless. She added that she does not intend to return to this topic, as such spectacles undermine the unity of the Western world.
According to the prime minister, her level of support among voters has nothing to do with friendship or personal relations with the American politician.
She said her popularity in Italy stems solely from her ability to consistently and effectively defend her country's national interests.
"In any case, my popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours," Meloni said.
Status of US military bases
The prime minister also addressed the operation of American military facilities on Italian territory. She emphasized that the use of these bases is clearly regulated by existing bilateral agreements.
Italy strictly adheres to the signed arrangements, and those agreements will not be violated while the current government remains in office.
Meloni concluded by saying that Italy remains fully sovereign in this matter.
'She begged me to take a picture with her!'
Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni recently became involved in a public dispute following the G7 summit in France. In an interview, the US president claimed that the Italian prime minister had allegedly begged him to take a photo together because she wanted it so badly.
Meloni sharply denied the claim, calling it completely fabricated and expressing outrage at such behavior by the US president toward his allies.
This is not the first serious disagreement between the two politicians, who had previously been seen as political allies. Earlier, the US president accused the Italian prime minister of "lacking courage" after Rome refused to join efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
At the time, Meloni responded to Trump's criticism by saying that true allies must have the courage to speak out and tell the truth, even when they disagree with one another.
