The political relationship between President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suffered another blow last week, the latest in ongoing tensions spurred in part by Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV earlier this year.
On June 18, Trump told the U.S. correspondent for Italian broadcaster LA7 that Meloni had “begged” for a picture with him, and that he “felt sorry” for her. The Italian establishment and media reacted with almost unanimous indignation. Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani canceled his imminent mission to the U.S.; a source very close to the prime minister even dismissed Trump’s remark as a “delirium.”
Meloni herself released a short video where she explained, barely containing her outrage, that the American president’s narrative was false — and that neither she nor the country would ever beg anyone. A similar reaction was repeated the following day: Meloni invited Trump to focus on his own loss of popularity after he accused her of trying to shore up her dwindling support with a picture in his company.
Meloni has been highly regarded by Republicans in the U.S., her views appearing to be in alignment with the political party that elected Trump on issues like immigration, gender
