Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has denied claims made by U.S. President Donald Trump that she begged for a photo with him during the recent G7 summit. Meloni called Trump’s claims “completely fabricated” and expressed astonishment that he would invent such things about an ally.

Italian Response

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled a planned trip to the United States in response to Trump’s comments, calling them “serious and offensive” toward Meloni and all of Italy. Meloni posted a video stating that “Italy and I do not beg” and questioning why Trump would behave this way toward his own allies.

Trump had made the comments in an interview broadcast on the La7 network, claiming that Meloni had begged him for a photo-op during the G7 meeting in Evian-les-Bains, France. However, Meloni and other Italian officials have strongly denied these claims, with many expressing solidarity and support for Meloni.

Impact on Relations

The incident has highlighted the fraying of relations between Trump and Meloni, who were once seen as close allies. The two leaders have disagreed on several issues, including the U.S. war in Iran and Trump’s tariffs against Europe. Meloni has also criticized Trump’s position on Ukraine, which Italy strongly supports.

Despite the tensions, Meloni has received support from other European leaders, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who offered his solidarity against Trump’s attacks. The incident has also sparked a wider debate about the state of U.S.-European relations and the impact of Trump’s leadership style on international diplomacy.

Original reporting: WTVQ (Lexington) — read the source article.