‘My popularity is none of your concern, focus on yours’: Meloni fires back at Trump

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday fired back at US President Donald Trump, slamming him for his latest remarks claiming the Italian leader wants to be friends with him to boost his popularity.

Dismissing the US President’s criticisms as “unprovoked attacks”, the Italian PM said, “President Trump, these constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless. As for my popularity, being your friend certainly has not helped it, nor does it depend on my relationship with you.”

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Meloni said that her popularity depends on her “ability to defend Italy’s national interest, and that is exactly what I have always done.”

On Trump’s grievances regarding Italy’s refusal to allow US military access to Italian military bases during the Iran war, Meloni said that the use of the bases is strictly governed by pre-existing agreements that her government has consistently respected, and emphasised that these terms would not be violated during her tenure.

“That is also what I did regarding the American military bases in Italy. Their use is governed by agreements that we have always respected, and that cannot be violated as long as I am Prime Minister,” she said.

She further asserted that “Italy remains a sovereign nation”, while dismissing Trump’s commentary on her political standing.

“In any case, my popularity is none of your concern,” she wrote, adding, “I suggest you focus on yours”.

What Trump said about Meloni in latest post

Meloni’s sharp response came shortly after Trump claimed that the Italian PM sought to be “friends again” after the US military “defeated” Iran solely to “get her numbers up.”

In a social media post on Truth Social, he said, “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 (But so did NATO, for that matter!).”

Trump said that Meloni didn’t let the US use Italian runways during the Iran conflict and now that the US has “defeated Iran militarily”, she wants to be friends again to get her “numbers up”.

“She wouldn’t even let us use Italy’s landing strips or runways, a great logistical inconvenience, and this despite the fact that the U.S. contributes hundreds of billions of dollars a year to protect Italy, and other “so-called” NATO Allies. Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her “numbers up.” No thanks!!!,” he said.

Trump-Meloni war of words: The beginning

Trump’s remarks came after Meloni’s sharp denial of his earlier claim that the Italian PM “begged” him for a picture during the G7 Summit.

In a phone interview with Italy’s La7 TV channel, Trump said, “She (Meloni) begged me to take a photo with her; I felt sorry for her.” He added, “She’s probably happy I spoke to her”.

Italy reacted angrily to Trump’s comments mocking Meloni, with the country’s foreign minister cancelling a planned visit to the United States.

Meloni also issued a statement, saying she was “frankly stunned” by Donald Trump’s “made-up” comments.

“I can only say it is regrettable that he does not show the same determination towards the enemies of the West and towards the enemies of the US – (enemies) whose leaders he instead appears to be far more accommodating with,” she said.

The Italian Prime Minister further added, “But there is one thing he needs to remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg.”