At the G7 summit in Évian‑les‑Bains, former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Italian TV that he was begged by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for a photo together. Meloni, who attended the summit with the expectation of a cordial meeting, publicly refuted the story, stating it was “made‑up.”
The incident removed what had been a budding understanding between the leaders, especially after Meloni’s previous support for Trump’s inauguration, and it triggered a wave of responses across Italian politics. Government officials and opposition figures alike demanded respect for Italy’s dignity in the face of what they described as an arrogant tone.
According to Prime Minister Meloni, Trump “felt sorry for her,” a claim that the Italian leader found both misleading and humiliating. In her statement to seven million followers, Meloni noted that she never “begged,” emphasizing that “Italy’s position remains unchanged” despite any perceived rudeness from Trump.
The controversy unfolded just months after Trump announced a war with Iran, a decision that sparked criticism from Meloni and other European leaders. Her opposition to the U.S. war position only deepened the rift, as evidenced by Trump’s subsequent telephone interview in which he admitted his earlier misjudgment of Meloni’s stance.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella called Meloni to offer support, and politicians from across the spectrum rallied to defend her, highlighting the extent of national sentiment against what they viewed as the humiliation of the country. Senator Filippo Sensi criticized Trump’s tone, and Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte lamented the real cost of “pursuing favours” at the expense of national dignity.
Observations from Meloni’s own Brothers of Italy party suggested that Trump’s remarks were part of a broader pattern of offensive statements directed at European leaders. The truth of the incident remains contested, with Meloni’s side suggesting that the footage from the summit shows a very different dynamic than Trump’s description.
