In brief
Donald Trump has publicly accused Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of repeatedly demanding a photo with him during the G7 summit in Evian, France. In a Truth‑Social post, the former president alleged that Meloni also obstructed U.S. access to Italian air facilities for Iranian operations and criticised her popularity in Italy. Meloni, in turn, denounced the claim as false, saying she was stunned and that Italy, like Trump, had never “begged.” The spat occurs amid broader tensions between the U.S. and Italy over Iran-related military actions and assistance, with Italy previously refusing U.S. aircraft landing rights at Sigonella. The incident underscores how diplomatic disagreements can spill onto social media and affect bilateral relations, especially when former presidents and sitting leaders with a shared history of cooperation become embroiled in public disputes.
US President Donald Trump has publicly accused Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of repeatedly asking for a photo together at the G7 summit in Evian, France, a claim that has sparked a sharp backlash in Italy.
In a Truth‑Social post dated June 19, Trump said that Meloni had "begged" him over and over for a picture during the summit. He also alleged that the new Italian leader was blocking US use of Italian air facilities for American operations in Iran and criticized her popularity in Italy.
Meloni, in response, released a video on Instagram and spoke to reporters saying that the claims were false and that she had never requested a photo from the former president. She described being "frankly stunned" by the story and insisted that her administration does not request favors from the United States.
The exchange comes amid overt tensions between the U.S. and Italy, which has recently denied US aircraft access to the Sigonella air base in Sicily for operations linked to Iran. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has even cancelled an upcoming trip to the United States to avoid further strain.
Broad commentators note that the story may reflect Trump’s ongoing use of social media to generate commentary on allies and adversaries alike, while Italian officials point to a lack of credible evidence for the photo claim. The incident illustrates how diplomatic disputes are increasingly played out in real‑time online platforms, potentially affecting the longstanding relationship between the two nations that originally saw the pair meeting at Trump’s January 2025 inauguration.
