US President Donald Trump intensified his public criticism of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday, accusing her of repeatedly seeking a photograph with him during the recent G7 summit and questioning her political standing at home.

The latest remarks deepened a growing diplomatic dispute between the two leaders, who have exchanged sharp comments in recent days despite previously being seen as political allies.

Trump Revives G7 Photo Controversy Involving Giorgia Meloni

The dispute first gained attention earlier this week when Trump claimed during an interview with an Italian broadcaster that Meloni had "begged" for a photograph with him at the G7 summit in France.

Meloni quickly rejected the allegation and called it "completely fabricated." However, Trump repeated the claim in a post on his Truth Social platform. "Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked, over and over, for a picture with me during the G-7 meeting in France," Trump wrote. His comments reignited debate in Italy and added fuel to an already tense diplomatic exchange.

Donald Trump Questions Giorgia Meloni's Popularity in Italy

Trump also suggested that Meloni's political popularity was declining in Italy. He linked her alleged struggles to disagreements with Washington on key foreign policy issues, particularly Iran's nuclear program.

"She is doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity, possibly because she turned down the United States of America, a Country that truly loves and protects Italy, when it came to denying Iran from obtaining or developing a Nuclear Weapon (But so did NATO, for that matter!)." The remarks highlighted Trump's dissatisfaction with Italy's approach to recent international security matters.

How the Trump-Meloni Dispute Began

According to Italian television network La7, Trump first raised the issue during an interview on Friday. The broadcaster reported that a journalist had asked him about Ukraine, but Trump shifted the discussion toward Meloni and once again brought up the photograph controversy.

Trump said he did not have to agree to the photo request but did so because he felt sympathy for the Italian prime minister. La7 later published a dubbed version of the exchange, although the original English-language audio was not released.

Italy Responds as Diplomatic Tensions Increase

The disagreement has already triggered diplomatic repercussions. Reports indicated that Italy's foreign minister canceled a planned trip to the United States following Trump's comments. Meanwhile, members of Meloni's government publicly backed the prime minister and rejected Trump's claims. The dispute has quickly become one of the most closely watched diplomatic disagreements between Washington and Rome.

Trump Criticizes Italy's Position During Iran Conflict

Trump also targeted Italy's stance during the recent conflict involving Iran. He criticized Meloni's government for refusing to allow the United States to use Italian landing strips and runways for military operations linked to the conflict.

According to Trump, Italy's decision was particularly frustrating given the significant defense spending undertaken by the United States within NATO. The criticism echoed Trump's long-standing complaints about burden-sharing among NATO members. He recently raised similar concerns during talks with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and ahead of the alliance's upcoming summit in Turkey.

Why Italy Refused US Military Access to Sicilian Base

Italy remains a key logistics hub for American military operations in Europe and the Mediterranean region. However, in March, Rome declined to authorize the use of a military base in Sicily by US bombers heading toward the Middle East without parliamentary approval. The decision created friction between the two allies and became another source of disagreement in their broader relationship.

Trump Claims Meloni Wants Better Relations After US-Iran Deal

Despite his criticism, Trump suggested that Meloni may now be seeking to rebuild ties with Washington. He claimed that following the preliminary peace agreement between the United States and Iran, the Italian leader wanted to improve relations with the US administration. Trump stated that Meloni "wants to be friends again" after the diplomatic breakthrough aimed at reducing tensions in the Middle East.

Trump-Meloni Clash Adds Strain to US-Italy Relations

The public war of words has created an unusual rift between two leaders who were often viewed as ideological allies on several international issues. While Meloni has firmly denied Trump's allegations regarding the G7 summit, Trump has continued to repeat his claims and criticize Italy's recent foreign policy decisions. As tensions continue to rise, the dispute has become a new challenge for relations between the United States and Italy, with both governments facing increasing scrutiny over how they manage the growing diplomatic fallout.