Key Facts

• Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that Trump's comments about her "begging" for a photo were entirely "made-up" and expressed her shock and disappointment at the US president's behavior.
• Trump alleged in a phone interview with Italy's La7 TV channel that Meloni "begged" him to take a photo with her, saying "I felt sorry for her," which Meloni responded to by saying "neither I nor Italy ever beg."
• The incident has strained the relationship between Meloni and Trump, which had initially been close, with Meloni being the sole European leader to attend Trump's inauguration in January 2025.
• Italy's President Sergio Mattarella immediately phoned Meloni to offer his support after Trump's comments, and figures from across the political spectrum in Italy sprang to her defence, condemning Trump's behavior as arrogant and unacceptable.
• Meloni's foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, cancelled a trip to the US following Trump's comments, which were seen as a further indication of the fraying relationship between the two leaders.