Meloni Says Trump 'Totally Invented' Claim That She Begged for G7 Photo
The Italian prime minister was left stunned after the US president claimed he only agreed to a photo at the G7 summit in Évian because he felt sorry for her
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been left stunned, stating that US President Donald Trump "totally invented" a story claiming she begged him for a photo during the recent G7 summit. In an interview with Italian media, Meloni strongly rejected the US president's claims. Trump had publicly asserted that the Italian premier begged for a photo with him, adding that while he was under no obligation to comply, he felt sorry for her and ultimately agreed to take the picture.[1][2][3]
The highly public disagreement serves as a clear indication that the earlier close ties between the two leaders have frayed, particularly following Trump's decision to go to war with Iran. Meloni and Trump, who are former allies, had previously fallen out in April over the US-Israeli war in Iran. Prior to this latest dispute, they had appeared to be getting their relationship back on track by holding several one-to-one meetings on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Évian. However, Trump's remarks have now provoked fresh outrage and exposed the ongoing tension between them.[1][2]
