Meloni-Trump rupture deepens as Italy cancels envoy's US visit

ROME — Italy's government cancelled Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani's planned visit to the United States on Friday, according to multiple foreign news outlets, in response to President Trump's claim that Premier Giorgia Meloni had 'begged' him for a photograph during the G7 summit in France. Meloni posted a video on social media calling Trump's account 'completely made up' and stating that 'neither I nor Italy ever beg.' The Washington Post, the BBC and France 24 all reported the escalating diplomatic row, with Trump subsequently doubling down on Saturday by accusing Meloni of 'repeatedly' seeking the photograph and linking the dispute to tensions over Iran and NATO.

The public spat masks a deeper strategic realignment. The Washington Post reported that Trump and Meloni, once described as ideological allies, have seen their relationship fracture over Iran policy—a shift that has become a 'liability' for the Italian leader domestically. The row also reflects Italy's awkward position as a NATO member caught between its Atlantic commitments and its Mediterranean interests, particularly in the Middle East.

Trump's remarks to Italian media, followed by his escalation on Saturday, represent an unusual public criticism from the US president toward a European leader who has cultivated close ties with his administration. The cancellation of Tajani's visit signals Rome's willingness to impose a diplomatic cost on the rupture, a rare move for an Italian government typically cautious about confronting Washington.