Italian Prime Minister Accuses Trump of Fabricating Story About Her

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said President Trump fabricated a story that she begged for a photo at the G7 summit in Evian, France. Meloni posted a video on X on June 19 stating the comments were completely fabricated and that she was stunned by the president's behavior toward allies.

She added that Italy and its leaders do not beg and that it is a shame the president does not show the same resolve toward the enemies of the West.

Background to the Dispute The comments attributed to Trump came during a phone interview with an Italian journalist after the three-day summit ended on June 16. Trump and Meloni had held multiple photo opportunities during the meeting, according to pool images released by the White House.

Italian television broadcaster La7 aired a dubbed Italian translation of the interview, but the original English recording has not been released for independent verification.

Italy's foreign minister canceled a planned trip to the United States this weekend, calling the alleged remarks serious and offensive. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini posted on X that whoever attacks Meloni attacks all Italians. Center-left former prime minister Matteo Renzi called the statements horrifying and urged Meloni to abandon her ties to Trump.

Meloni took office in 2022 as Italy's first female prime minister and was the only European Union leader invited to Trump's second inauguration in January 2025. Their relationship began to fracture in April when Meloni called Trump's social-media attacks on Pope Leo XIV unacceptable.

>"Donald Trump's statements are completely fabricated.