In brief
Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni repeatedly asked for a photo with him at the G7 summit, a claim the Italian leader has denied. Trump also accused Meloni of hindering U.S. military operations in Iran by blocking use of Italian air facilities. Meloni responded that she was stunned by the allegations and warned Trump against misrepresenting allies. The exchange comes amid a broader diplomatic rift that began after Trump’s 2024 military strike against Iran. While U.S.–Italy relations have historically been close, the two leaders now find themselves at odds over both media narratives and defense cooperation.
Former U.S. president Donald Trump posted a heated rant on Truth Social on Wednesday, claiming that Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni had “begged” for a photo of them together during the G7 summit in Évian.
Trump’s post also accused Meloni of refusing U.S. aircraft access to Italy’s Sigonella air base, thereby hindering American military operations in Iran.
Meloni, who met with Trump at the summit, dismissed the allegation in a video to her followers: “I was stunned,” she said, adding that she had never begged the U.S. president for anything.
In a separate post, Trump repeated that Meloni’s “great logistical inconvenience” was a direct consequence of her restrictions on U.S. military air traffic.
Earlier this year, Italy denied U.S. planes from landing at Sigonella to carry out missions against Iranian forces, a decision that has strained U.S.–Italian defense cooperation.
Trump’s criticism came after a 2025 U.S. military strike on Iranian targets, which set off a diplomatic rift that has seen both leaders trade barbs in public statements.
Meloni, a key ally of Trump and the only European leader to attend his inauguration, said that her relationship with the U.S. had not changed and that “no recriminations” had taken place, though subsequent interviews and tweets contradicted that stance.
A video interview on Italy’s La7 television channel later featured Trump stating that Meloni “begged” him for a photo, a claim that was not corroborated by the channel’s own recording.
Meloni’s own response, posted on her Instagram account, emphasized that “neither I nor Italy ever beg,” underscoring the disconnect between the two leaders’ public narratives.
The standoff reflects broader tensions that have emerged over U.S. foreign policy actions in the Middle East, with Italy and other European allies reassessing their alliances with Washington.
As diplomatic communications channel remains strained, both leaders are likely to face scrutiny from their domestic audiences and from the international community.
