Trump claims Meloni begged for photo at G7 Évian summit: Meloni accuses Trump of fabricating story, straining Italy-US relations

## Introduction

## Details of Trump’s remarks about Meloni asking for a photo at the Évian summit Details of Donald Trump’s remarks to Italian network La7 revealed a major controversy in international relations and Italy news circles, as Trump claimed that Giorgia Meloni begged him for a photo with Trump during the G7 summit held in Évian, stating he would not have taken the photo but agreed out of pity for her. The remarks came just weeks after the two leaders had attempted to repair the Meloni-Trump relationship, which had deteriorated sharply in April 2026 following Italy’s refusal to back the US-Israeli war in Iran, and Trump’s subsequent harsh criticism of Pope Leo after the pontiff condemned the conflict. Prior to this fallout, the Meloni-Trump relationship was considered one of the closest between a European leader and the US president, as Meloni was the only European leader invited to attend Trump’s presidential inauguration, and the two shared a common nationalist rhetoric on issues including immigration and national sovereignty.

## Giorgia Meloni’s response to Trump’s claims: “Italy and I never beg” Giorgia Meloni responded to Trump’s claims with a video posted to her official Instagram account, captioned "Italy and I never beg", in which she confirmed that Trump’s declarations are completely fabricated. Meloni stated that some issues deserve an immediate response, expressing her shock at the US president’s behavior towards his allies, noting that this was not the first time he had acted this way, and lamenting that he did not show the same determination towards the West’s enemies as he did towards its allies. Her response quickly went viral across Italy and Europe, with widespread support from politicians across the political spectrum, and drew attention to the damage the incident had caused to Italy-US relations and the broader standing of the United States in European international relations.

## Domestic reactions in Italy to Trump’s offensive remarks Trump’s remarks triggered a wave of cross-party outrage in Italy, with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announcing the cancellation of his planned trip to the United States the following week, stating that Trump’s serious and offensive words towards Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni insult the whole of Italy. Former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, leader of the opposition Five Star Movement, stated that Italy does not deserve to find itself so blatantly humiliated by a foreign leader. Giovanbattista Fazzolari, Undersecretary to the Prime Minister’s Office, issued a statement saying it was unclear whether Trump’s actions were driven by intent or ineptitude, but that he was wrecking the historic relations between the United States and Europe. Fazzolari added that Trump had managed a difficult feat of making the United States unpopular across the entire European continent, damaging not only Europe but above all the US itself.

## Background of the recurring Meloni-Trump feud and its impact on Trump foreign policy The most significant prior dispute between Trump and Meloni dates back to April 2026, when Italy refused to support the US-Israeli war in Iran, drawing criticism from Trump who had sought broad European backing for the conflict. Tensions escalated further when Trump launched a harsh public attack on Pope Leo after the pontiff condemned the war, prompting Meloni to defend the Pope and criticize Trump’s remarks. Until this fallout, the Meloni-Trump relationship had been very strong, rooted in shared nationalist rhetoric and aligned positions on immigration and national sovereignty. The recurring feud between the two leaders highlights major contradictions in Trump foreign policy towards Western allies, as he often shows deference to adversarial states while publicly humiliating long-time partners, undermining the cohesion of the Western alliance as a whole.

## Implications of the photo story for Italy-US relations and Western international relations The controversy over the fabricated photo story has created significant tension in Italy-US relations, with Italy feeling deeply insulted by the US president’s public remarks towards its democratically elected head of government. The cancellation of Tajani’s official visit has frozen bilateral cooperation in security and economic fields temporarily, and raised concerns about the future of the alliance between the two countries. The incident has also damaged the United States’ popularity across the European continent, with many European leaders expressing solidarity with Meloni and criticizing Trump’s behavior. Analysts note that the feud could weaken Western coordination on shared security challenges including Russian expansionism and international terrorism, creating rifts in broader international relations that could take years to repair.