At the G7 summit held June 17-19 in Évian-les-Bains, France, US President Donald Trump said Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni begged him repeatedly for a photo, which he agreed to only out of pity. Trump remarked, "She begged me to take a picture with her; I felt sorry for her. She's probably happy I spoke to her" [1, 2, 3, 4].

Meloni strongly rejected the allegation as "completely made up," expressing astonishment and offense. She said, "Neither I nor Italy ever beg" and questioned Trump's attitude toward allies, stating, "I don't know why the US president behaves this way towards allies... But there is one thing he needs to remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg" [1, 5].

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also condemned Trump's remarks, calling them "serious and offensive" and announced he was canceling a planned US visit scheduled for June 21-22 as a protest [6, 7, 8]. Tajani said the comments "offend the whole of Italy" [6].

The row reflects widening tensions since Trump’s military actions against Iran earlier in 2026, which Meloni opposed. Trump accused Meloni of creating logistical issues by denying the US military use of Italian air base Sigonella for operations against Iran [2, 3, 9]. He claimed on social media Meloni was attempting to repair relations with the US for domestic political gain after the US defeated Iran militarily, posting, "Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her 'numbers up.' No thanks!!!" [2, 3, 9, 4].

Meloni dismissed those attacks, telling Trump, "These constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless. My popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours" [9]. As of June 2026, Meloni's approval rating in Italy stood around 35%, with her Brothers of Italy party leading polls at 28%. Trump's US approval rating was around 36% [9, 10].

Meloni was the only European leader to attend Trump's inauguration in January 2025. However, their relations deteriorated sharply over disagreements on Iran and Trump's criticism of the Pope [1, 5, 11].

The diplomatic spat continues with no sign of easing. Tajani's canceled US trip removes a potential chance for dialogue in the coming days [6, 7].