Meloni Says Trump 'Totally Invented' Story That She Begged for G7 Photo
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has rejected claims by Donald Trump that she begged him for a photo at the G7 summit, signaling a further fraying of their relationship
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has strongly rejected claims by US President Donald Trump that she "begged" him for a photograph during the recent G7 summit in Évian. Meloni stated in an interview with Italian media that Trump "totally invented" the story, and reports indicated she was left stunned by his remarks. Trump had publicly claimed that he was not obliged to take the photo with the Italian premier, but that he ultimately agreed to do so because he felt sorry for her.[1][2][3]
This highly public exchange serves as a clear indication that the earlier close ties between the two leaders have frayed. Their relationship had previously deteriorated in April following Trump's decision to go to war with Iran, specifically in connection with the US-Israeli war in Iran.[1][2]
Prior to this latest clash, Meloni and Trump had appeared to be getting their relationship back on track. The two former allies had held several one-on-one meetings on the sidelines of the G7 gathering in Évian, but Trump's subsequent claims have now provoked widespread outrage and disrupted those efforts.[2]
