Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni revealed publicly that she quit smoking on May 1, 2026, a detail caught on a hot mic during the G7 summit on September 5. "Since the first of May," Meloni said when asked about her smoking status, drawing congratulations from leaders including those of Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the European Union [1, 2].
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney added levity by jokingly asking Meloni if she used a nicotine patch, saying, "Do you have a patch?" [1].
Meloni also exchanged lighthearted banter with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the summit's family photo, referring to the internet phenomenon "Melodi," a nickname blending their names. Meloni said, "Yes, we are the most famous couple on Instagram," referencing a viral video that accumulated 100 million views within six hours [2].
French President Emmanuel Macron confided to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he had a "difficult discussion" with former US President Donald Trump about Ukraine matters. Macron encouraged Zelenskyy to extend his stay at the summit and offered to help arrange a bilateral meeting with Trump [2].
The candid exchanges offered an unusually personal look at interactions among world leaders during the summit on September 5. The G7 talks continue with discussions planned through the coming days.
