A fresh diplomatic controversy has erupted after US President Donald Trump claimed that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had “begged” him for a photograph during the recent G7 Summit in France. Meloni quickly rejected the statement, calling it “completely made up” and expressing shock at the remarks.

Donald Trump Claims Giorgia Meloni Asked for a Photo

In a phone interview with an Italian media outlet, Trump said Meloni had strongly wanted a photograph with him during the G7 Summit held in Evian, France, from June 15 to 17. According to Trump, he agreed to the photo only because he felt sorry for her.

The comments quickly triggered debate in Italy and renewed attention on the relationship between the two leaders.

Trump and Meloni, both prominent right-wing leaders, had recently worked to stabilize ties after earlier disagreements linked to the conflict involving Iran. Their meeting at the summit was viewed as an effort to maintain cooperation despite political differences.

“She’s probably happy I talked to her. I didn’t have to talk to her," Trump was quoted as saying by Italy’s La7 TV channel. “She begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her."

Giorgia Meloni Responds and Rejects Trump’s Remarks

Meloni responded through a video posted on X, firmly denying Trump’s version of events. She described the comments as false and criticized the U.S. president for repeatedly making negative remarks about allied leaders.

“Donald Trump’s statements are completely made up, I’m frankly appalled. I don’t know why the President of the United States behaves this way with his own allies; after all, it’s not the first time it’s happened," she said.

The Italian prime minister also argued that Trump appeared tougher on allies than on opponents of the West.

“I can only say it’s a shame that he doesn’t show the same determination with the enemies of the West, with the enemies of the United States, with leaderships toward which he instead proves much more accommodating. However, one thing he must remember: I and Italy never beg," she added.

Italian Leaders Condemn Trump’s Comments

Trump’s remarks drew strong criticism from several senior Italian politicians, many of whom rallied behind Meloni.

Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani announced that he would cancel a planned visit to the United States, describing Trump’s comments as offensive to the entire country.

“The serious and offensive words of President Trump towards Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy. For this reason, I have decided to cancel my visit to the United States scheduled for the next 21 and 22 June," Tajani wrote on X.

His decision highlighted the growing political fallout caused by the controversy.

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto Defends Meloni

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto also criticized Trump’s remarks and defended Meloni.

Crosetto said he could not imagine the Italian prime minister asking anyone for a photograph, even under pressure. He also praised her efforts to maintain strong relations with Washington despite previous disagreements.

“I can, however, imagine how much it cost her to set aside what Trump had said weeks ago, to serve the interests of Italy, of Europe, and of the West. And I imagine how much it will cost her not to comment as it deserves on this latest lapse in style by the US President," he said.

He added that such comments damage relations between two long-standing allies and serve no useful purpose.

Trump and Meloni Relationship Faces Fresh Strain

Meloni was once considered one of Trump’s closest political allies in Europe. She was the only European leader to attend his inauguration in 2025, reflecting the strong ties they shared at the time.

However, their relationship has faced increasing challenges in recent months. Differences reportedly emerged after Trump made remarks concerning Pope Leo, which attracted criticism in Italy. Tensions grew further following the outbreak of the Iran conflict, as Meloni gradually distanced herself from some of Trump’s positions.

G7 Summit Controversy Adds New Pressure on US-Italy Relations

The latest dispute has created fresh uncertainty in relations between Washington and Rome. What began as a disagreement over a photograph has now evolved into a broader diplomatic controversy involving senior officials from both countries.

With Italian leaders publicly defending Meloni and criticizing Trump’s remarks, political observers will be closely watching whether the incident has any lasting impact on cooperation between the United States and Italy in the months ahead.