Italy’s top diplomat nixes US trip after Meloni says Trump fabricated story

The Italian premier curate has accused Trump of making up a communicative that she ‘begged’ him for a photograph astatine the G7 acme successful France.

A diplomatic enactment betwixt United States President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has escalated, with Italy’s apical diplomat cancelling an upcoming sojourn to the US.

At contented is Trump’s assertion that Meloni “begged” him for a photograph during the Group of Seven (G7) gathering successful France earlier successful the week.

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“She’s astir apt blessed I talked to her. I didn’t person to speech to her,” Trump reportedly told the Italian La7 network. The broadcaster lone published a dubbed Italian mentation of the interview, not the archetypal English version.

“She begged maine to instrumentality a representation with her. She wanted a representation with maine truthful badly. I wouldn’t person taken it, but I felt atrocious for her.”

On Friday, Meloni posted a video answering Trump’s statement, saying that “certain things merit an contiguous response”.

“Donald Trump’s statements are wholly fabricated. I americium frankly stunned,” she said. “I don’t cognize wherefore the president of the United States behaves this mode toward his ain allies. After all, this isn’t the archetypal clip this has happened.”

The caput of a far-right enactment who campaigned connected an anti-immigrant platform, Meloni had agelong been seen arsenic 1 of Trump’s astir supportive counterparts successful Europe.

She had met with Trump astatine his Mar-a-Lago property pursuing his 2024 predetermination triumph and attended his inauguration successful January 2025.

However, the brace person diverged during Trump’s 2nd word implicit respective issues, including enactment for Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion, the US-Israeli warfare with Iran, Trump’s threats to prehend the Danish territory of Greenland and his disapproval of Pope Leo.

In her video, Meloni said it was a “shame” Trump did not amusement “the aforesaid resoluteness toward the enemies of the West, toward the enemies of the United States” arsenic helium did successful his statements against her.

She accused the US president of being “much much accommodating” to foes than allies.

“But there’s 1 happening helium indispensable remember: Italy and I bash not beg,” she said.

Shortly aft Meloni posted the video, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said helium was cancelling a play travel to the US, wherever helium was scheduled to be a concern forum successful Miami, Florida and conscionable with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

He called Trump’s reported statements “serious and offensive”. Several different authorities officials besides weighed in.

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio suggested Trump’s remarks besmirched the bequest of the US soldiers who died during World War II.

“The thousands of crosses marking the graves of American soldiers who died to escaped america from Nazi-Fascist dictatorship did not merit specified a achy stroke to our fraternal ties,” Nordio posted connected X.

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said helium did not judge Meloni would ever beg for a photo, “not adjacent nether threat”.

“Jokes of this benignant bash nary bully to anyone: neither to the USA, nor to Italy, nor to the alliance,” helium said.

The White House did not instantly respond to Meloni’s comments.