Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has strongly denied a claim by U.S. President Donald Trump that she begged him for a photograph during the recent G7 summit in France, describing the assertion as completely false.
The dispute emerged after Trump told Italian broadcaster La7 that Meloni had desperately wanted a photo with him during the Group of Seven gathering in Evian-les-Bains.
“She begged me to take a photo with her. She wanted a photo with me so badly,” Trump reportedly said, adding that he agreed because he “felt sorry for her.”
Meloni responded forcefully, dismissing the account as fiction.
“I and Italy never beg,” she said, adding that she was “stunned” by Trump’s remarks and describing them as “totally fabricated.”
The Italian leader also questioned Trump’s treatment of allied nations, suggesting that he often shows less respect toward long-standing Western partners than toward geopolitical rivals.
“I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way with his own allies,” Meloni said. “It’s not, after all, the first time this has happened.”
The disagreement quickly expanded into a broader diplomatic dispute. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned Trump’s comments as “serious” and “offensive” to Italy and announced the cancellation of a planned trip to the United States.
Video footage from the G7 summit appeared to show Trump and Meloni engaged in a lengthy private conversation while seated together. However, Trump characterized the interaction as something he granted rather than sought himself.
“She’s probably happy I talked to her. I didn’t have to talk to her,” Trump reportedly said.
The clash marks a notable deterioration in relations between the two conservative leaders, who were once viewed as close political allies. Meloni attended Trump’s inauguration in January 2025 and was the only European leader present at the ceremony.
Trump had previously praised Meloni publicly, calling her a “fantastic woman” and commending her political leadership in Europe after meeting her at Mar-a-Lago.
Relations have cooled in recent months amid disagreements over foreign policy issues, including the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran and criticism involving Pope Leo XIV. The latest exchange highlights growing tensions between two leaders whose political partnership was once seen as one of the strongest transatlantic relationships among right-leaning governments.
