Trump insists that Italian Meloni sought photos with him to increase his popularity | Donald Trump News

The US president’s comments deepen the tension between the former leaders of the neighborhood that has emerged during the war with Iran.

United States President Donald Trump criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, saying she repeatedly sought a photo opportunity with him at the event. the recent G7 summit to boost his popularity at home.

Trump’s latest comments in a post on Truth Social on Saturday deepen the rift between Trump and the far-right Italian leader, who has long been seen as one of the US president’s closest allies in Europe.

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Trump initially told Italian reporters on Thursday that Meloni “asked” him for a photo at the G7 summit in France, saying he agreed because he “felt sorry for him”.

Meloni replied that he was “surprised” by what the “made-up” said.

But Trump hit back on Saturday, saying the Italian prime minister had asked “repeatedly” for a photo.

He was accused of trying to improve relations with Washington for domestic political reasons after Italy failed to support US actions against Iran.

“Now, after the United States defeated Iran in the war, it wants to be its friend again to increase its ‘numbers’. No thanks!!!” Trump wrote.

Meloni rejected Trump’s latest statement on Saturday.

“President Trump, this relentless attack is absurd,” Meloni said on Instagram. “My popularity depends on my ability to defend the interests of the Italian nation, and that is what I have always done,” he added.

In his speech, Trump revived his long-standing complaint that the US spends a lot of money to protect “so-called” NATO allies, saying that Washington contributes hundreds of billions of dollars to protect Italy and others.

The statement was a serious escalation of a conflict that had already caused anger in Rome.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled the planned trip in the US in this line, saying on Friday that Trump’s “worst and offensive” words to Meloni “offend all of Italy”.

Trump shows ‘great respect for enemies’

Meloni, who heads Italy’s far-right Italian Brotherhood party, accused Trump of showing more respect for Western enemies than for his allies.

“I don’t know why the president of the United States does this to his allies,” he said in a video posted on X in response to Trump’s comments.

“It is sad that they are not showing the same determination against the enemies of the West and the United States – against the leaders they love the most,” he continued.

Meloni had been there for many months developing close ties with Trump as he tries to convince European allies they care about his second term.

He said at the end of the G7 meeting in Evian that the atmosphere was “very good” and that there was “no conflict” between Trump and other leaders.

But the relationship between the two it was already destroyed during the war against Iran.

Trumpet lit Meloni in April after defending Pope Leo the 14th against his objections against the papal wars. “I thought he was brave, but I was wrong,” Trump told Italian reporters at the time, adding that it was “reported” that Meloni “doesn’t want to help get rid of a nuclear-armed Iran”.