Italy snubs Trump: Foreign minister cancels US trip after Meloni 'begged' photo claim
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelled his US trip after Donald Trump said Giorgia Meloni begged him for a photograph at the G7 summit. The remark triggered a public rebuke from Meloni and sharpened already growing tensions between the allies.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has cancelled a planned trip to the United States after President Donald Trump claimed Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had "begged" him for a photograph at the recent G7 summit, a remark that triggered a sharp diplomatic row between the two allies.
The dispute escalated on Friday after Meloni publicly denounced Trump's comments as "completely made up" and declared that "neither I nor Italy ever beg." In a further sign of growing tensions, Tajani announced he was scrapping his June 21-22 visit to the US, calling Trump's remarks "serious and offensive" to both the Italian prime minister and the country.
The public exchange marks a significant deterioration in relations between the two right-wing leaders, who had appeared to stabilise their previously strained relationship during the G7 summit in France. The tensions come after disagreements earlier this year over the war in Iran.
Trump made the remarks in an interview with Italian television channel La7. According to the broadcaster's translation, Trump said Meloni was "probably happy" that he spoke to her during the summit.
"She's probably happy I talked to her. I didn't have to talk to her," Trump was quoted as saying after he himself raised the topic of Italy's prime minister during the interview.
Trump further claimed that Meloni had sought a photograph with him.
"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," he said, according to La7's translation. The channel released only a dubbed version of the interview and did not publish the original audio.
Responding on Friday, Meloni strongly rejected Trump's account and accused him of fabricating the story.
"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," Meloni said.
She also criticised Trump for what she described as a softer approach toward adversaries of the West.
"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," she said.
Meloni concluded her response with a pointed message directed at Trump.
"There is one thing he should remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg."
Announcing the cancellation of his Washington visit, Tajani said Trump's comments had crossed a line.
"The serious and offensive words of President Trump towards Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy. For this reason, I have decided to cancel my visit to the United States scheduled for the next 21 and 22 June," he said.
Video footage from the G7 summit showed Meloni and Trump engaged in a lengthy conversation. However, Trump suggested that he had merely accommodated the Italian leader by speaking with her.
Meloni was once among Trump's strongest supporters in Europe and attended his inauguration in 2025, becoming the only European leader present at the event.
Relations between the two leaders later cooled after Meloni criticised Trump for attacking Pope Leo over the pontiff's condemnation of the Iran conflict. After the war began, Meloni distanced herself from Trump's position, prompting the US president to accuse her of lacking courage.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has cancelled a planned trip to the United States after President Donald Trump claimed Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had "begged" him for a photograph at the recent G7 summit, a remark that triggered a sharp diplomatic row between the two allies.
The dispute escalated on Friday after Meloni publicly denounced Trump's comments as "completely made up" and declared that "neither I nor Italy ever beg." In a further sign of growing tensions, Tajani announced he was scrapping his June 21-22 visit to the US, calling Trump's remarks "serious and offensive" to both the Italian prime minister and the country.
The public exchange marks a significant deterioration in relations between the two right-wing leaders, who had appeared to stabilise their previously strained relationship during the G7 summit in France. The tensions come after disagreements earlier this year over the war in Iran.
Trump made the remarks in an interview with Italian television channel La7. According to the broadcaster's translation, Trump said Meloni was "probably happy" that he spoke to her during the summit.
"She's probably happy I talked to her. I didn't have to talk to her," Trump was quoted as saying after he himself raised the topic of Italy's prime minister during the interview.
Trump further claimed that Meloni had sought a photograph with him.
"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," he said, according to La7's translation. The channel released only a dubbed version of the interview and did not publish the original audio.
Responding on Friday, Meloni strongly rejected Trump's account and accused him of fabricating the story.
"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," Meloni said.
She also criticised Trump for what she described as a softer approach toward adversaries of the West.
"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," she said.
Meloni concluded her response with a pointed message directed at Trump.
"There is one thing he should remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg."
Announcing the cancellation of his Washington visit, Tajani said Trump's comments had crossed a line.
"The serious and offensive words of President Trump towards Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy. For this reason, I have decided to cancel my visit to the United States scheduled for the next 21 and 22 June," he said.
Video footage from the G7 summit showed Meloni and Trump engaged in a lengthy conversation. However, Trump suggested that he had merely accommodated the Italian leader by speaking with her.
Meloni was once among Trump's strongest supporters in Europe and attended his inauguration in 2025, becoming the only European leader present at the event.
Relations between the two leaders later cooled after Meloni criticised Trump for attacking Pope Leo over the pontiff's condemnation of the Iran conflict. After the war began, Meloni distanced herself from Trump's position, prompting the US president to accuse her of lacking courage.
