President Donald Trump has long viewed the European Union as an obsolete institution that undermines national sovereignty through excessive bureaucracy. But Trump’s recent outburst toward Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, claiming she “begged for a picture” and that he “felt sorry for her,” presents a far more direct attack. The consequences for the trans-Atlantic friendship may be severe.
Meloni has long invested in her relationship with America’s MAGA movement, courting personalities such as Steve Bannon when he was senior counsel to the president during Trump’s first term. She did this to elevate both her own status and that of her party when it was still relatively unknown. Over the years, Trump has shown support for Meloni’s stances on issues such as migration, traditional family values, and national sovereignty, reflecting a strong ideological affinity between the two.
That affection ended last week after the two leaders met in France for this year’s Group of Seven talks. During an unexpected interview with Italian television, Trump expressed regret for what he viewed as Meloni’s attempt to boost her ratings through a photo-op with him. This led Meloni to deny his story strongly and say, “Italy and I never beg.”
It’s unclear why Trump made these remarks. He later expressed frustration at Meloni’s lack of support for the Iran war, but speculations over deeper tensions, such as Meloni’s support for Ukraine and low defense spending, have also emerged.
Regardless, Trump is making a serious mistake in alienating Meloni. Long viewed as the bridge between Europe and the U.S., Meloni played an instrumental role in keeping trans-Atlantic ties afloat in perhaps their lowest point in history. When Trump’s threats to acquire Greenland prompted a wave of indignation from NATO allies in Europe, Meloni was quick to defend him, saying she did not believe he “actually intended” to use force.
During Israel’s U.S.-supported war against Hamas, Meloni broke with the mainstream actions taken by other major European leaders, including France and the United Kingdom, by refusing to recognize a Palestinian state. She did so despite her harsh criticisms of Israel’s conduct in the war. Meloni also played a pivotal role in securing a trade agreement between the EU and the U.S., convincing fellow European leaders to increase purchases of U.S. goods and advocating a strong front against China.
TRUMP’S IRAN AGREEMENT AND THE MIDDLE EAST’S UNTHINKABLE NEXT STEP
Trump may believe that insulting Meloni carries little cost.
Yet, in a Europe increasingly skeptical of Washington’s reliability, leaders willing to defend the U.S. are becoming harder to find. By publicly humiliating one of the few who still does, Trump risks weakening not just his relationship with Meloni but America’s influence across the continent.