Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni responded sharply to US President Donald Trump's claim that she 'begged' for a photo with him, saying in a statement that she entered 'at 200 km/h' against Trump after he told that story. 'It's a shame he does not show the same determination with the enemies of the West and enemies of America,' she said.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni escalated her public confrontation with US President Donald Trump on Friday, mocking his remarks that she 'begged' for a photo with him at the G7 summit and that he 'felt sorry' for her. In a statement reported by Italian media and Israeli intelligence channels, Meloni said she entered 'at 200 km/h' against Trump after he told that story — a strong, dismissive tone from a European leader toward the US president.
The exchange marks a sharp deterioration in US-Italy relations. Earlier on Friday, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled a planned visit to the US, calling Trump’s words 'grave and offensive to all of Italy.' Meloni previously called the remarks 'absolute fiction.' Now she has added a pointed challenge: 'It's a shame he does not show the same determination with the enemies of the West and enemies of America,' suggesting Trump is tougher on allies than on adversaries. The incident is likely to further strain transatlantic ties, especially as the US-led diplomatic framework on Israel and the region is already under European scrutiny.
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Source and signal
- Internal intake