Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has rejected President Donald Trump's statement that she "begged" him for a photo at the recent G7 summit.
Meloni Fires Back at Trump's 'Begged' Photo Claim: 'Italy and I Do Not Beg'
MarketDash
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denies Donald Trump's claim that she 'begged' for a photo at the G7, calling it 'completely fabricated' and sparking a diplomatic backlash.
Get Market Alerts
Weekly insights + SMS alerts
Meloni Rejects Trump's Claim As False
Meloni said in a video statement that Trump's remarks were "completely fabricated" and expressed astonishment at what she described as misleading comments about an allied leader, CNBC translated the video on Friday.
"Italy and I do not beg," she said, directly addressing the accusation.
The controversy stems from a Trump interview aired on Italy's La7 network, in which he was asked about Ukraine but instead discussed his interaction with Meloni at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France.
According to the broadcast, Trump suggested Meloni had insisted on a photo opportunity, a statement Italian officials say is inaccurate.
Italy Responds With Diplomatic Backlash
Italy's government moved quickly to defend Meloni.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled a planned trip to the U.S., calling Trump's remarks "serious and offensive" toward both the prime minister and Italy.
President Sergio Mattarella also expressed solidarity, as officials across the political spectrum rallied behind Meloni.
"Whoever attacks @GiorgiaMeloni attacks all of us," wrote Transport Minister Matteo Salvini on X.
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said he did not believe Meloni would ever "beg someone for a photo, not even under threat."
Strained US–Italy Relations Surface
The dispute comes amid already cooling relations between Trump and Meloni, once seen as close political allies.
Differences have emerged over Ukraine, tariffs and Middle East policy, despite earlier efforts by Meloni to position herself as a bridge between the U.S. and Europe.
Meloni said she was responding publicly because "certain things deserve an immediate response," adding that she was "frankly stunned" by Trump's statements.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comments.
More News
Trump's Iran Deal Faces New Threat As US Intelligence Warns Netanyahu May Derail Accord Amid Election Pressure: Report
Your Book Attached
Goldman Slashes Gold Forecast as Markets Bet on Fed Hikes, Not Cuts
Move Over, Mag 7: ProShares Wants to Bundle OpenAI, SpaceX, and Nvidia Into One ETF
The Nasdaq 100 Has Tripled Since 2020, But These 10 Mega-Caps Are Still Underwater
URGENT: $2 Gold Stock With Major Discovery
SpaceX's Post-IPO Hangover: Bear ETFs Party While SPCX Sinks
June's Biggest Small-Cap Tech Winners: These 5 Stocks Lead The Rally
Get Market News Alerts
Real-time alerts on price moves, news, and trading opportunities.
Join 20,000+ investors. No spam, ever.
Featured Articles
View all newsTrump's Iran Deal Faces New Threat As US Intelligence Warns Netanyahu May Derail Accord Amid Election Pressure: Report
By MarketDash
June 20, 2026
Trump, Elon and the Coming AI “Black Swan” (Ad)
By Stansberry Research
Goldman Slashes Gold Forecast as Markets Bet on Fed Hikes, Not Cuts
By MarketDash
June 19, 2026
Move Over, Mag 7: ProShares Wants to Bundle OpenAI, SpaceX, and Nvidia Into One ETF
By MarketDash
June 19, 2026
The Nasdaq 100 Has Tripled Since 2020, But These 10 Mega-Caps Are Still Underwater
By MarketDash
June 19, 2026
Inside: Pre-IPO Ticker + The Next Elon Musk? (Ad)
By Banyan Hill
SpaceX's Post-IPO Hangover: Bear ETFs Party While SPCX Sinks
By MarketDash
June 19, 2026
June's Biggest Small-Cap Tech Winners: These 5 Stocks Lead The Rally
By MarketDash
June 19, 2026