Trump Once Again Mocks Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, Claims She Seeks His Friendship for Popularity

Islamabad: U.S. President Donald Trump has once again taken a swipe at Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, claiming that she is seeking his friendship to boost her declining popularity.

In a recent statement, Trump said that the Italian prime minister repeatedly requested to take photos with him, including during the G7 summit in France.

He alleged that Meloni’s popularity in Italy is falling and suggested that her decline may be linked to disagreements over the Iran issue and Italy not cooperating with the United States on certain matters, including allowing use of Italian air routes.

Trump further said that the United States spends billions of dollars annually to support Italy and other NATO allies for their security. He claimed that after the U.S. “defeated Iran,” Meloni is now trying to rebuild relations for political gain, adding “no thanks.”

His remarks follow earlier comments made in an interview with an Italian TV channel, in which he also claimed that Meloni had insisted on taking photos with him at the G7 meeting.

In response, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni strongly rejected Trump’s claims, calling them completely fabricated and expressing surprise at his statements. She questioned why the U.S. president would speak in such a manner about an ally, adding that this was not the first such incident.

The exchange has reportedly strained relations between Washington and Rome, with Italy’s foreign minister cancelling a planned visit to the United States scheduled for next week.