June 19, 2026, 1:40 p.mJune 19, 2026, 1:40 p.m
Just a few days after a supposedly conciliatory conversation on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Évian, US President Donald Trump caused a stir with mocking remarks about Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni at the G7 summit.Image: keystone
In a telephone interview with the Italian TV station La7, Trump said: “She begged me to take a photo with her.” He complied with this request because he felt sorry for her.
Meloni reacted promptly in a video message on Instagram and explained there: “Donald Trump’s statements are completely made up. I’m honestly stunned.” She added: “Me and Italy never beg.” She doesn’t know why the US President behaves this way towards allies.
Tensions for several months
The relationship between Meloni and Trump had recently suffered significantly. The US President sharply criticized the right-wing head of government about two months ago after she described his verbal attacks on Pope Leo XIV as “unacceptable”. When asked about Meloni, Trump said he was shocked by her and was mistaken about her.
At the G7 summit in Évian, France, at the beginning of the week, there was said to have been a “clarifying conversation,” according to reports from Rome. Italian media distributed a photo of the two: they can be seen sitting together on a couch and deep in conversation. The “unity of the West” was said to have been reaffirmed by both, diplomatic circles reported.
Foreign Minister cancels visit to the USA
In the most recent La7 interview, Trump quickly turned the conversation to Meloni – whom he had previously repeatedly praised and described as an important partner – and asked the journalist how his Prime Minister was doing. He then said: “She’s probably happy that I spoke to her. I didn’t have to talk to her.” Trump said she wanted a photo with him so badly. La7 did not publish the original sound, but only a version dubbed into Italian.
Italy’s foreign minister cancels his trip to the USA.Image: keystone
After the comments, Meloni received support from Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. He wrote on For this reason, he canceled a visit to the USA planned for next week. (dab/sda/dpa)