After Trump renewed his photo claim on the G7, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has responded by saying: ‘My popularity is none of your concern’.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has reacted strongly to U.S. President Donald Trump’s reassertion of accusations that she has asked him for several photos during her recent G7 meeting in France.
The new swap is the latest in a series of public disagreements between the two leaders whose ties have grown tense the past few months following differences of opinion about U.S. military action against Iran.
Trump raises doubts about Meloni’s popularity
Trump made the comment in a social media post from Camp David on Saturday, suggesting Meloni was “doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity.”
He also charged the Italian leader with not aiding and abetting U.S. attempts to prevent Iran “from obtaining or developing a nuclear weapon”.
Trump also took a swipe at Italy’s stance on the battle and said he felt that he had key allies that didn’t support Washington’s efforts enough.
The U.S. president also reiterated his previous assertion that Meloni had requested several photos with him.
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Trump’s attacks are ‘senseless,’ Meloni says.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Meloni called Trump’s words “constant, unprovoked attacks”.
She also denied the notion that her political career was hinged on her friendship of the American president.
“As for my popularity, being your friend has certainly not helped it, nor does it depend on my relationship with you,” said Meloni.
I really don’t care about your popularity, you should care about your own.
Trump’s comments overall were dismissed by the Italian prime minister as “senseless”.
Dispute over Italian Military Bases
Trump also said Meloni was responsible for “a great logistical inconvenience” for the United States that had denied it access to Italian air installations for military operations related to Iran.
This was refuted by Meloni too.
She said that, with reference to the bases, there are already existing agreements in place and that those agreements would continue to be respected.
But the Italian leader said the use of Italian bases “is governed by agreements that we have always respected, and that cannot be violated as long as I am prime minister”.
The G7 Photo Disagreement is back on. The G7 Photo Disagreement resumes.
This new disagreement comes after Trump’s remarks at the G7 summit in France.
After the meeting, Trump told the Italian news channel La7: “She begged with me to take a picture with her; I felt sorry for her”.
Probably “she’s probably happy I spoke to her,” he added.
The comments were made despite several photographs of the two leaders together, including one that shows them talking privately.
In an interview with reporters at the time, Meloni said there was no recriminations and that “relations between the two leaders remain unchanged.
But following the airing of Trump’s interview, Meloni made it public that she rejected his account.
Responding to the claim, Meloni in an Instagram video said she was “frankly stunned”.
“I don’t know why the US president behaves this way towards allies,” she said, adding it was not the first time it had happened.
“But there is one thing he needs to remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg,” she said.
The growing tensions between two allies.The escalating conflict between two allies.
The feud has come to light in the public arena, and raises tensions between Washington and Rome.
Meloni was considered one of Trump’s most loyal allies in Europe, and was the only European head of state to attend his January 2025 inauguration.
But this year, the relationship has been marred by a number of problems.
The two leaders also had a disagreement after Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV in a Truth Social post as having been “WEAK on Crime and terrible for Foreign Policy.
Those comments, Meloni went on to say, were “unacceptable.
##Support for Meloni Across Italy
Everyone from across the Italian political spectrum has been joining Meloni’s side in her answer to Trump.
The prime minister has been supported by political leaders on both the government and opposition sides.
The dispute has also had diplomatic implications and Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has cancelled a trip to the United States due in the next week.
Both leaders have also had a close political relationship in the past but the ongoing exchange indicates that unresolved issues between the two exist after the G7 summit.
