politics
US Secretary of State Meets Italian Prime Minister
The secretary of state held talks in Rome with the Italian prime minister amid tensions fueled by the U.S. conflict with Iran and President Trump's criticism of the pope. The meeting followed the secretary of state's discussions at the Vatican aimed at easing friction with the Holy See. Italian officials have resisted U.S.
May 7, 6:26 PM·3m read12 sources
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Friday as relations between the United States and a key European ally face unusual strain over the war with Iran and President Trump's public criticism of Pope Leo XIV.
The talks came one day after the secretary of state held discussions at the Vatican with the pope and senior church officials. Those meetings sought to calm tensions that have grown since Trump condemned the pontiff for opposing the Iran conflict. The secretary of state described the Vatican talks as constructive and noted the church plays a significant role worldwide.
Meloni, once seen as the U.S. president's closest ideological partner in Europe, has publicly called Trump's attacks on the pope unacceptable. That stance prompted a sharp response from Trump, who questioned her reliability and suggested he might withdraw American troops from Italy.
The Italian leader later said she would not support such a move though the decision does not rest with her alone.
Italy refused last month to allow U.S. aircraft to use the Sigonella air base in Sicily for combat operations linked to the Iran war. Officials said Washington had not sought prior authorization from Rome for the use of the site. The defense minister, a close ally of the prime minister, warned that the conflict was putting U.S. global leadership at risk and voiced fears of nuclear escalation.
Italian public opinion has turned against deeper involvement in the Iran conflict. Pollsters say the prime minister's past closeness to Trump could become a liability ahead of national elections scheduled for next year. The Vatican dispute carries extra sensitivity in overwhelmingly Catholic Italy where criticism of the pope by foreign leaders can quickly become politically toxic.
Meloni was the only European leader to attend Trump's second inauguration in January 2025 and visited him at Mar-a-Lago. Trump once publicly praised her as an incredible leader during a 2025 Middle East summit in Egypt. That partnership began to fray after Meloni criticized Trump's remarks about the pope.
