'Meloni Asked for a Picture Over and Over': Donald Trump Doubles Down Despite Giorgia Meloni Calling Claim False
In a major setback for Shiv Sena (UBT), party chief Uddhav Thackeray publicly apologised to voters after a fresh rebellion saw most of the party’s Lok Sabha MPs join the rival faction led by Eknath Shinde, reshaping Maharashtra’s political landscape once again.
U.S. President Donald Trump has doubled down on his assertions regarding Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, claiming on Saturday that she repeatedly pressed him for a photograph during the recent Group of Seven (G7) summit in France. Writing on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump suggested that Meloni is attempting to repair ties to reverse a decline in her domestic political standing following a major disagreement over military logistics.
The public remarks follow a swift rejection from Rome just a day prior, where Meloni explicitly accused the U.S. leader of fabricating the story. The escalating rhetorical exchange signifies a sharp downturn in what was previously regarded as a highly cooperative relationship between the two conservative heads of state. ‘Begged for a Photo’ Remark: Italy Hits Back at Donald Trump Over Giorgia Meloni Claim, Foreign Minister Cancels US Trip.
Post-War Tensions and Airspace Disputes
The friction between the two administrations stems from the recent 15-week U.S. military conflict with Iran, which concluded earlier this month. Trump expressed deep dissatisfaction with America's European allies for providing what he viewed as insufficient support during the operations, singling out Italy's refusal to grant access to its defense infrastructure.
Trump noted that Meloni would not allow the U.S. military to use Italy’s landing strips or runways, describing the decision as a great logistical inconvenience. He linked her current domestic political challenges directly to this policy, stating that her level of popularity is suffering because she turned down the United States when it came to denying Iran from obtaining or developing a nuclear weapon.
The U.S. President further directed his grievances toward the broader North Atlantic Treaty Organization, writing that NATO had similarly declined to support the initiative despite the fact that the U.S. contributes hundreds of billions of dollars annually to protect Italy and other so-called NATO allies. Following the conclusion of the military campaign, Trump claimed that Meloni now wants to be friends again in order to get her numbers up, an overture he concluded with a brief, "No thanks!!!" Did Giorgia Meloni Beg Donald Trump for a Photo at G7 Summit? Italy PM Rejects US President's Claims (Video).
'Meloni Asked for a Picture Over and Over'
Rome Dismisses Accusations as Entirely Fabricated
The latest social media post serves as a direct counter-response to Meloni’s public pushback on Friday. The dispute initially flared after Trump told the Italian television network La7 that the Italian Prime Minister had been exceptionally eager to be photographed alongside him during the G7 meetings in Évian-les-Bains, France, adding that she was probably happy he spoke with her.
Meloni firmly dismissed those claims during a broadcast address, characterizing Trump's version of events as completely made up and expressing clear disappointment with the remarks. She concluded her statement with a pointed defense of national dignity, stating that there is one thing he should remember, which is that neither she nor Italy ever beg.
The Breakdown of a Close Alliance
The current hostility represents a stark shift from early 2025, when Meloni stood out as the only European Union leader to personally attend Trump's second presidential inauguration, establishing her as one of his primary political anchors in Europe.
The relationship began to deteriorate significantly when Meloni publicly rebuked Trump for launching personal attacks against Pope Leo XIV after the pontiff condemned the U.S. military intervention involving Iran. In response, Trump accused the Italian leader of a lack of courage, initiating a sequence of mutual criticisms that has now culminated in open diplomatic fallout, including the cancellation of an upcoming official visit to Washington by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 20, 2026 06:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
