Italy's Meloni says Trump 'made up' story that she 'begged' him for photo at G7

June 19, 2026

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has publicly condemned President Trump after he claimed in a television interview that she "begged" him for a photograph together at the recent G7 summit in France. Meloni denounced Trump's assertion as completely fabricated and expressed bewilderment at his hostile treatment of allies, particularly contrasting it with his more accommodating approach toward Western adversaries. The dispute represents a dramatic deterioration in what began as a close relationship, with Meloni having been the only European leader to attend Trump's 2025 inauguration and initially viewed as a bridge between the US and Europe.

Who is affected

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
President Donald Trump
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani
Italian President Sergio Mattarella
European leaders including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Italian political figures across the spectrum (Filippo Sensi, Giuseppe Conte, Lucio Malan, Matteo Salvini)
European voters
US-European alliance broadly

What action is being taken

Meloni is publicly denouncing Trump's claims through an Instagram address to her seven million followers
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is cancelling a trip to the US scheduled for early next week
Italian President Sergio Mattarella is phoning Meloni to offer support
European leaders are refusing to allow US bombers to use their air bases for the Iran war
European capitals are looking to develop more strategic autonomy without depending on the US
Right-wing European parties are distancing themselves from their American counterparts

Why it matters

This dispute matters because it represents a significant fracturing of the US-European alliance and marks a fundamental shift in how European leaders engage with the Trump administration. Meloni was previously seen as a crucial bridge-builder between the US and Europe, making this breakdown particularly consequential for transatlantic relations. The conflict reflects a broader pattern where European allies are increasingly willing to challenge rather than accommodate President Trump, potentially leading to greater European strategic independence and a weakening of traditional Western partnerships that have underpinned international security for decades.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC