Trump and Meloni rupture publicly over a G7 photo and Italy's Iran refusal
Trump says Meloni 'begged' him for a photo; she calls it fabricated and her diplomat cancels his US trip
Summary
After the Macron's Évian G7 turns Trump toward Ukraine, drops the joint communiqué summit, Donald Trump told Italian broadcaster La7 (aired ~19–20 June) that Giorgia Meloni had "begged" him "over and over" for a photo and that he "felt sorry for her," tying her falling popularity to Italy having "turned down the United States" on Iran. Meloni called the claim "totally fabricated," replying that "these constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless." The trigger was Italy's March 2026 refusal to let US bombers use a Sicily base without parliamentary authorization during the US–Israeli war on Iran. FM Antonio Tajani cancelled his 21–22 June US trip, calling Trump's words "grave and offensive," and President Mattarella phoned Meloni in solidarity. Italy's once-special bond with Trump — she was the only EU leader at his 2025 inauguration — has visibly fractured, pushing Rome toward the Macron hosts Meloni at Antibes for the first France–Italy bilateral summit European track.
By the numbers
- ~3+ days — duration of Trump's public attacks (19–24 June).
- 21–22 June — Tajani's cancelled US trip and Miami forum.
- March 2026 — Italy's Sicily-base refusal during the Iran war.
- 1 — EU leaders at Trump's January 2025 inauguration (Meloni), a measure of the fall.
Why it matters
The break strips Trump of his closest EU interlocutor and pushes Meloni toward Macron and the European mainstream just as the bloc weighs its US and China posture. The Sicily-base refusal shows even allied governments now resisting being drawn into US Middle East operations.
What to watch
- Whether Tajani reschedules and the US relationship stabilises.
- Italy's alignment at the Antibes summit and in EU trade votes.
- Domestic effect on Meloni's standing ahead of a possible early vote.