politics
Trump Says Meloni ‘Begged’ for Photo at G7; Italy Cancels Miami Forum
Italian officials canceled a planned U.S. trip and publicly disputed the president’s claim that Premier Giorgia Meloni begged for a photo at the recent G7 summit. The premier posted a video calling the remarks fabricated and said Italy does not beg.
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” She said she responded immediately because “certain things deserve an immediate response” and noted it was not the first time such statements had been made.
The Italian Foreign Ministry announced that a planned business and scientific forum in Miami had been canceled and that Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani had withdrawn from a scheduled visit to the United States. The ministry described Trump’s remarks as “serious and offensive.”
Several Italian officials publicly backed Meloni. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini posted that whoever attacks the premier attacks all Italians. Justice Minister Carlo Nordio referenced American soldiers buried in Italy from World War II and said they did not deserve harm to bilateral ties.
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said he did not believe Meloni would beg anyone for a photograph. Italian President Sergio Mattarella also called Meloni to express support.
The exchange follows months of friction between the two governments over the U.S. military operation in Iran, tariffs on European goods, and differing approaches to the war in Ukraine. Meloni was the only European Union head of state to attend Trump’s inauguration in January.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed solidarity with Meloni during a European Council meeting, stating that the remarks were neither political nor personal. The White House did not return an immediate request for comment.
