Doubling down on his claim, US President Donald Trump on Saturday said that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked him “over and over” for a picture during the G-7 meeting in France.
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’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 don’t know why the US president behaves this way towards allies,” Meloni said and added that this was not the first time it had happened.
“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 added.
The Italian Prime Minister further went on to add, “But there is one thing he needs to remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg.”