Trump-Meloni spat grows over claim Italian PM 'begged' for photo: 'astonished'
Antonio Tajani cancelled his scheduled trip to the U.S., calling Trump's words 'serious and offensive' to all of Italy
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A simmering rift between President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni burst into the open Friday after the G7 summit, exposing growing tensions between two leaders whose close political alliance had long positioned Meloni among Trump's closest allies on the world stage.
"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 Friday, according to Reuters.
Trump told an Italian news outlet that Meloni "begged" him to take a photo with her during the G7 earlier this week, which sparked strong rebuke from the prime minister and Italian diplomats. Before the recent strain over Iran, Meloni was widely viewed as one of Trump's strongest allies on the world stage, even attending his 2025 presidential inauguration as the only European leader present.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn't have taken it, but I felt sorry for her," Trump said to La7 TV channel. "She's probably happy I talked to her. I didn't have to talk to her."
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President-elect Donald J. Trump welcomed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to his Mar-a-Lago residence, where both posed for a photo smiling and Trump gave a thumbs up in 2024. (TeamTrump)
Meloni fired back: "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."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"There is one thing he should remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg," she added.
Representatives from the prime minister’s office told Fox News Digital they have no comment at the moment. Fox News Digital also reached out to the White House.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Meloni said Trump's statements were "completely made up" and that "neither I nor Italy ever beg." (Mandel NGAN / POOL / AFP via Getty Images; Bastien Ohier / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images))
There have been looming tensions between the two leaders after Meloni recently distanced herself from the U.S. amid mounting domestic and political pressure over the widening Middle East conflict.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani abruptly canceled his U.S. visit Friday following Trump's remarks over the photo.
"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," Tajani wrote on X.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose for a group photo at the Chigi Palace in Rome, Italy, on May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
Tajani was set to attend the Italy–U.S. Business, Investment, Science and Innovation Forum in Miami, Florida. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to deliver remarks at the conference on Monday. Rubio recently traveled to Italy last month to smooth over previous tensions with Meloni and Pope Leo XIV.
Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department for comment.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}As Trump urged world leaders to take a more active role in the Iran conflict, Meloni notably stayed on the sidelines, underscoring an emerging rift between the longtime allies.
Meloni has previously said she would not support any effort to reduce the U.S. military presence in Italy, drawing a contrast with Trump’s broader push to reposition American forces in Europe.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Italy remains a key U.S. security hub in Europe, hosting nearly 13,000 active-duty American troops across six bases as of the end of 2025.
Fox News Digital’s Courtney Walsh and Reuters contributed to this report.