New Delhi: A public feud between the United States president, Donald Trump, and the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has erupted into a full-blown diplomatic spat, with both leaders exchanging sharp personal attacks over social media days after meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.
The row began when Trump claimed that Meloni repeatedly asked for photographs with him during the G7 gathering and suggested that she was trying to improve her political standing by associating with the US president. “She begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so badly,” Trump said in comments to Italian media before doubling down in a post on X, where he accused the Italian leader of hurting relations with Washington by refusing support during the recent Iran conflict.
Trump alleged that Italy denied the US access to its airfields and runways, creating what he described as a major logistical problem during military operations linked to Iran. He added that Meloni was now seeking to repair ties with Washington after the US “defeated Iran militarily”.
Meloni responded forcefully, dismissing Trump’s remarks as “completely made up” and expressing astonishment at what she called repeated attacks on America’s allies.
“Donald Trump’s statements are completely made up, I’m frankly appalled,” the Italian prime minister wrote on social media. In her sharpest response, she added “One thing he must remember I and Italy never beg.”
The exchange is particularly striking because the two leaders were seen interacting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, where Meloni has traditionally been viewed as one of Trump’s closest political allies in Europe.
Airbase dispute behind the feud
Behind the personal attacks lies a deeper disagreement over the Iran conflict.
Recent reports revealed that Italy denied the use of the Sigonella naval airbase in Sicily to certain US military aircraft transporting weapons linked to operations in the Middle East. Italian officials reportedly argued that the request did not follow the parliamentary authorization procedures required under existing agreements governing the use of US military facilities in Italy.
The decision came amid growing domestic pressure on Meloni’s government to prevent Italian territory from being used to support military action against Iran. Opposition parties and anti-war groups have urged Rome to maintain distance from the conflict, while public opinion polls show widespread opposition to deeper involvement.
Although Meloni has warned that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a serious threat to Europe, she has also criticised military actions carried out outside the framework of international law and repeatedly stated that Italy would not enter the war.