Published: 10:34 AM, 21 June 2026
Giorgia Meloni Denies Pleading Donald Trump for Taking Photograph
Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni were seen in close conversation at the G7 summit at Evian in eastern France this week and the Italian leader later told reporters their relationship was unchanged and there had been no recriminations. Reuters
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said she is astonished after US President Donald Trump told Italian TV she had "begged" him for a picture with her, in comments that have provoked an open row, reports BBC.
Meloni said Trump's comments were entirely "made-up", and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has cancelled a trip to the US early next week. The highly public exchange is an indication of how far their earlier close ties have frayed in the months since Trump's decision to go to war with Iran. Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni were seen in close conversation at the G7 summit at Evian-les-Bains in eastern France this week, and the Italian leader later told reporters their relationship was unchanged and there had been "no recriminations". However, Trump has since given a phone interview with Italy's La7 TV channel in which he alleged: "She begged me to take a photo with her; I felt sorry for her."
The two leaders were filmed several times at Evian, including while they appeared engrossed in conversation on a small sofa, with Meloni smiling as they talked.
"She's probably happy I spoke to her," he said. La7 did not produce Trump's original words in English, but voiced them over in Italian.
Meloni reacted in total disbelief, saying she was "frankly stunned", in a brief address to her seven million followers on Instagram.
"I don't know why the US president behaves this way towards allies," she said, adding it was not the first time it had happened.
"I can only say it is regrettable he does not show the same determination towards the enemies of the West and towards the enemies of the US - [enemies] whose leaders he instead appears to be far more accommodating with."
"But there is one thing he needs to remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg." The BBC has approached the White House for comment.
Meloni's evident shock at Trump's outburst comes after a series of incidents that have weakened what had begun as a close political relationship.
>>Agency
