Published: June 19, 2026 | TrenBuzz.com
Key Points – Meloni Fires Back at Trump
- Trump and Giorgia Meloni met at the G7 summit in Evian, France on June 16, 2026
- Trump claimed Meloni “begged” him for a photo; Meloni called it “fully made up”
- Italy cancelled Foreign Minister Tajani’s planned US visit in response
- The two were once seen as close allies but tensions have been building since early 2026
- Meloni stressed Western unity while hitting back at Trump publicly
What was once one of the strongest partnerships in Western politics has hit serious turbulence. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and US President Donald Trump held a “clarification meeting” on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France following months of growing tensions between the two leaders.
Things escalated fast after the summit wrapped up. Trump claimed Meloni had “begged” him for a photo at the G7, to which Meloni responded in a video saying the claim was “fully made up” and declaring: “Neither I nor Italy ever beg.”
Meloni also questioned Trump’s approach to allies, saying it was a pity he did not show the same determination with enemies of the West as he does with his own partners.
Italy responded swiftly. The Italian government cancelled a planned US visit by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani that had been scheduled for June 21 and 22.
Their relationship had already been strained after Trump criticised Pope Leo XIV’s anti-war views and later threatened to withdraw US forces from Italy over the Iran war.
Europe’s so-called “Trump whisperer” is no longer whispering.
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