President Donald Trump restated his claim that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni “begged” to take a picture with him at the G7 Summit in France this week.
Trump’s once-friendly relationship with Meloni has been strained since Italy refused to back the U.S. plan to impose a military blockade on the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war. He had initially criticized her for defending Pope Leo XIV from Trump’s personal attacks on the pontiff over the conflict. Months later, it appears the two world leaders can’t let go of their differences.
Trump reiterated that Meloni “badly” wanted a photo with him while criticizing her government’s stance on the Strait of Hormuz blockade.
“That’s true,” he told NBC News on Friday. “She wasn’t there for us.”
“She was a big fan, but I don’t want her as a fan because she was not there — along with the NATO group — having to do with the strait,” he said.
Many European allies declined to participate in the U.S.-led military blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, preferring a more diplomatic approach to reopening the key waterway for commercial shipping. Iran initially closed the strait in late February, causing a surge in global gas and oil prices.
Renewed access to the Strait of Hormuz was one of the terms outlined in the 14-point memorandum of understanding signed by both sides. Reports earlier on Friday indicated Iran had closed the strait again, but the Iranian Foreign Ministry later said the waterway is open.
Regarding Meloni, Trump previously said she was “probably happy I talked to her” at the three-day G7 summit and that he “didn’t have to talk to her.” His remarks were made in an interview with Italian television channel La7, which caught Meloni’s attention.
In response, the prime minister denied she “begged” for a photo and claimed the president lied about their interaction.
“Donald Trump’s statements are completely fabricated,” Meloni said in a video statement. “I am frankly appalled. I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way towards his allies. After all, it’s not the first time it’s happened.”
Earlier this week, Trump was seen conversing with Meloni and other European leaders during the G7 forum. When European Council President Antonio Costa remarked that the two were “friends again” at the summit, Meloni replied, “We’ve always been friends.”
Following Trump’s critical comments about his ally, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced he canceled his planned trip to the U.S. early next week in a sign of solidarity with Meloni. Tajani said Trump’s words “offend all of Italy.”