During the G7 summit in Evian, France, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni facing a barrage from former U.S. President Donald Trump over social media.
Trump slammed Meloni for allegedly being "popular in Italy" while her own popularity was supposedly faltering. He also accused her of blocking U.S. use of Italian bases for operations related to Iran.
In an Instagram post, Meloni called Trump’s attacks “senseless” and told him her popularity was none of his concern, urging him instead to focus on his own.
Later, Trump claimed—the misinformation—that Meloni begged him for a photo at a G7 meeting. Meloni debunked the story, stating that neither she nor Italy ever begged for that photo.
The two leaders have a long history: Meloni was the sole European head of state who attended Trump’s inauguration. Yet the new spat signals a rising rift tied to U.S. military actions against Iran.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has cancelled an upcoming U.S. trip amid the fallout. The exchange showcases how politics can become an even more volatile arena—especially when leaders trade fire on national and international platforms.
Photo: Reuters
