WARMINGTON: Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni trade barbs as war of words heats up

Italy's prime minister responds to U.S. president, saying she didn't 'beg' for photo with him at G7 meeting

Published Jun 20, 2026  •  3 minute read

U.S. President Donald Trump insists that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni "asked, over and over" for a photo with him at the G7. Meloni denied begging for a photo with Trump. Photo by Andreas Solaro / Mandel Ngan / AFP / Files /Getty Images

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Just call this The Donfather Part Two.

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Or maybe Battle of the Divas would be more appropriate since this is a giant ego fight similar to the one in the 18th century between celebrated Italian sopranos Francesca Cuzzoni and Faustina Bordoni at the London Opera House.

Everybody in 1726 watched those two stars of the day duke it out to the music of George Frideric Handel.

And 300 years later, two modern day prima donnas have squared off.

Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, U.S. President Donald Trump, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and European Council President Antonio Costa attend a work lunch as part of the G7 summit, in Evian, France, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Photo by Christian Hartmann / POOL / AFP /Getty Images

Trump’s latest verbal war

Not only does U.S. President Donald Trump beg to differ on Italian Prime Minster Giorgia Meloni saying she didn’t “beg” to get a picture with him during the G7 meeting in Versailles, France, he turned the heat up on his latest verbal war.

And, in turn, she sent her own missile right back.

Yes, in this sequel that may actually turn out to be bigger than the first drama, the Don of America and La Madrina (Godmother) of Italy politics are going to the mattresses.

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Move over Justin Trudeau, Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Trump has a new target. But the president has never got the kind of pushback from any of them than he’s getting from Meloni now.

The second round of this heavyweight fight started Saturday morning.

“Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked, over and over, for a picture with me during the G-7 meeting in France,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.

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The first time he suggested “she begged me to take a picture with her” and “wanted a picture with me so badly” but he took it because “I felt sorry for her,” Meloni didn’t like it.

“There is one thing he should remember — neither I, nor Italy, ever beg,” Italy’s political boss shot back in a social media video Friday, saying Trump should not be attacking allies.

Then in response to Trump’s Saturday post, Meloni sent one back of her own.

“These constant unprovoked attacks are senseless,” she wrote in English on her Instagram account.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni fired back at U.S. President Donald Trump over his comments following the G7 meetings in France. Photo by Giorgia Meloni /Instagram

Trump turning up the heat

Trump had turned up the heat – even saying she created issues for America’s ability to wage the Epic Fury war in Iran.

“She wouldn’t even let us use Italy’s landing strips or runways, a great logistical inconvenience, and this despite the fact the U.S. contributes hundreds of Billions of Dollars a year to protect Italy, and other ‘so-called’ NATO Allies,” wrote Trump.

On the American military base grievance, Meloni fought back by saying “their use is governed by agreements that we have always respected, and that cannot be violated as long as I am prime minister. Italy remains a sovereign nation.”

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Trump said she’s just seeking his attention and trying to get noticed by getting close to him in France.

“She is doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity, possibly because she turned down the United States of America, a country that truly loves and protects Italy, when it came to denying Iran from obtaining or developing a Nuclear Weapon,” he wrote.

U.S. President Donald Trump, Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi and Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni leave following a family photo at the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Photo by Anna Moneymaker /Getty Images

Meloni responded by saying, “As for my popularity, being your friend certainly has not helped it, nor does it depend on my relationship with you,” later adding “my popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours.”

Back in 1726 during a performance of Bononcini’s Astianatte, Cuzzoni and Bordoni ended up hurling insults in Italian at each other and pulling each other’s hair while the crowd came to fisticuffs. They ended up being both removed from the stage and the concert was cancelled.

Who knows how this war of words will end up while it’s heating up.

As loud as this feud appears to be, it is noticeable that Trump has not so far given Meloni a nasty nickname such as “Pocahontas” like he did for Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, Crooked Hillary Clinton, or Sleepy Joe Biden.

Once thought she was beautiful

But he does not seem to be in a mood to repair this spat with a woman he just last year called “beautiful.”

Wrote Trump: “Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her ‘numbers up.’ No thanks!!! President DJT.”

Meloni isn’t running away herself.

“My popularity depends on my ability to defend Italy’s national interest, and that is exactly what I have always done,” she wrote.

Anybody looking forward to Atto terzo (Act Three) of the Donfather versus La Madrina battle of the Divas?

Stay tuned.

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