Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni rejected US President Donald Trump's remarks, describing them as 'constant unprovoked attacks.' She said her political popularity depends on defending Italy's national interests, not her relationship with Trump, and added that US military bases in Italy operate under existing agreements that Rome respects and will not revise while she remains premier.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has responded directly to US President Donald Trump's recent attacks, issuing a sharp rebuttal in which she declared that her popularity is unrelated to her relationship with him. In her statement, Meloni described Trump's comments as 'constant unprovoked attacks' and emphasized that her standing depends on defending Italy's national interests, not on the US president's approval.
Meloni also addressed the issue of US military bases on Italian soil, which Trump had reportedly criticized Italy over in the context of operations against Iran. She stated that these bases operate under existing agreements that Rome respects and that she will not revise those rules as long as she remains prime minister, asserting Italy's sovereignty.
This latest exchange follows a week of escalating rhetoric between the two leaders. As The Zioneer reported, Trump earlier this week claimed that Meloni had 'begged' for a photo with him at the G7 summit — a characterization she called 'absolute fiction,' saying 'Italy never begs.' Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani subsequently canceled a planned visit to the US, calling Trump's words 'grave and offensive to all of Italy.' The ongoing feud marks a significant deterioration in US-Italy relations, with Meloni insisting Italy is a sovereign nation and advising Trump to focus on his own approval ratings.
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