Meloni tells Trump to ‘focus on your own popularity’ as row escalates
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has sharply responded to US President Donald Trump after he publicly questioned her political popularity and repeated claims that she had repeatedly sought a photo with him during a recent international summit. The exchange has intensified into a growing diplomatic disagreement between the two leaders.
Trump said on Saturday that Meloni was “doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity,” adding further criticism of her foreign policy stance. He also accused her of not fully supporting US efforts aimed at preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, a claim that added fuel to the escalating tension.
Meloni rejected the comments in a strong Instagram statement, describing Trump’s remarks as “constant, unprovoked attacks” and calling them “senseless.” She directly pushed back on his suggestion that her popularity depended on her relationship with him, stating: “My popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours.”
The dispute deepened after Trump also claimed that Italy had blocked the United States from using Italian air facilities for military operations linked to Iran. He described the situation as causing “a great logistical inconvenience” for US operations. Meloni firmly denied this, stressing that the use of Italian military bases is governed by long-standing bilateral agreements that remain fully respected and cannot be changed unilaterally.
Tensions had already been building after Trump alleged earlier in the week that Meloni had “begged” for a photograph during the G7 summit in France. The comment sparked controversy in Italy and prompted swift backlash from political leaders.
During the G7 summit, Meloni and Trump were seen in conversation and initially described their interactions as cordial. However, Trump later repeated his claim in a phone interview with Italy’s La7 television channel, saying: “She begged me to take a photo with her; I felt sorry for her.” The broadcaster did not air the original English audio, instead providing an Italian translation.
Meloni responded in a video posted online, saying she was “frankly stunned” by the remarks and questioning why the US president would speak in such a way about an allied leader. She added that such behaviour was not isolated and had occurred before in different contexts.
Despite the escalating exchange, Meloni has received support from across Italy’s political spectrum, with several figures defending her stance and criticising Trump’s comments as inappropriate for allied relations.
The row adds new strain to an already sensitive relationship between Washington and Rome, particularly amid ongoing disagreements over international security issues, including Iran and NATO-related cooperation. Meloni has previously maintained a close political relationship with Trump and was the only European leader to attend his inauguration in January 2025, making the current dispute a notable shift in tone.
