Rome: President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni traded barbs for a second day in an unprecedented blowout between the two countries’ leaders.
In a social media post overnight, Trump continued to insist – as he did on Friday – that Meloni had asked “over and over” for a photo with him at this week’s G7 meeting.
“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!)” Trump wrote.
He added: “Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her ‘numbers up.’ No thanks!!!”
Meloni retorted almost immediately in a post on Instagram, saying the “constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless”.
“As for my popularity, being your friend certainly has not helped it, nor does it depend on my relationship with you. My popularity depends on my ability to defend Italy’s national interest, and that is exactly what I have always done,” Meloni said.
“Italy remains a sovereign nation. In any case, my popularity is none of your concern,” she wrote. “I suggest you focus on yours.”
The rift between the two powerful leaders comes as Trump’s relationship with Europe had long been fraying, mainly over the US administration’s trade policy toward the continent, the president’s continued threats to take control of Greenland – a self-governing territory of Denmark – and Trump’s decision to strike Iran.
At the just-concluded G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, Trump took a warmer tone towards other European leaders in the coalition as they aligned behind his interim agreement to end the war in Iran. But tensions were again expected to be on full display as Trump travels to Turkey for the annual NATO summit next month.
Meloni opposed the Iran war from the beginning but became more vocal in her criticism as energy prices surged. Italy in March denied the US the use of an airbase in Sicily for combat operations during the war, citing rules that date back to the 1950s.
Earlier this year Meloni also defended Pope Leo XIV, saying the president’s remarks criticising the pontiff for his opposition to the war were “unacceptable”. That prompted Trump to say he was “shocked” by her and that she lacked courage.
Trump’s initial comments were aired Friday on Italy’s La7 network. A correspondent had asked the president about Ukraine but Trump raised Meloni and made the claim about the photo. Trump said he was not obliged to take the picture with her but that he felt sorry for her and agreed, La7 said. The broadcaster put a dubbed version of the conversation online but not the original English audio.
Meloni escalated in her initial response, saying it was “regrettable” that Trump did not have the “same determination with the enemies of the West, the enemies of the US, with leaders he’s far more accommodating with”.
In discussion on the Conservative subreddit on Reddit, usually a bedrock of Trump support, many have taken Meloni’s side in the spat.
“I like Trump but this is another erratic outburst. She was the only European to attend Trump’s inauguration back in 2025,” one commenter said.
Another said: “The Italians are actually legit pissed off about it and they should be.”
A third said: “Mr. President. Stop, just stop. There are times you need to be quiet. This week, a lot of the comments you and the VP made were counterproductive.”
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Caitlin Fitzsimmons is the environment and climate reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. She was previously the social affairs reporter and the Money editor.Connect via email.
