Meloni's Trump dispute deepens as Italy cancels US diplomatic visit

According to the BBC, the New York Times, France 24 and the Associated Press, US President Donald Trump told Italian media that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had 'begged him for a photo' at the recent G7 summit in France. In response, Meloni posted a video on social media saying Trump's claim was 'completely made up,' and called the remarks 'frankly stunned.' Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani subsequently cancelled a planned visit to the United States, signalling a diplomatic escalation of the dispute.

Trump escalated further on Saturday, according to the Washington Post and CBS News, accusing Meloni of repeatedly seeking a photograph with him and linking the dispute to broader tensions over Iran and NATO. Meloni responded by telling Trump to 'focus on your own popularity,' as the BBC reported, marking an unusually direct public confrontation between two leaders whose political alignment had once been celebrated in international circles. The row underscores a fundamental shift in the transatlantic relationship as seen from Rome.