Italy’s Foreign Minister Cancels U.S. Visit Over Trump’s ‘Insulting’ Remarks About Meloni

Darwin, 20 June : Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has canceled his planned visit to the United States after accusations emerged that U.S. President Donald Trump had mocked Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Tajani was scheduled to visit the United States on June 21 and 22. However, in a post on X on Friday, he said: “President Trump’s serious and offensive remarks have insulted not only Prime Minister Meloni, but all of Italy.”

AFP reported from Rome that, in an interview with the Italian television channel La7, Trump claimed that Meloni was “very eager” to take a photograph with him during the G7 summit and that he agreed to it only out of “pity.”

According to a transcript published by the channel, Trump said: “She really wanted a picture with me. I felt sorry for her, so I agreed.”

He added: “Maybe she’s happy that I spoke to her. I had no need to speak with her.”

Meloni dismissed Trump’s remarks as “fabricated.”

In a post on X, she wrote: “Neither I nor Italy has ever begged anyone for anything.”

The right-wing leader also said: “I do not understand why the President of the United States is treating his allies in this way.”

She added: “It is unfortunate that he does not show the same toughness toward the enemies of the Western world or leaders who oppose the United States. Instead, he appears far more accommodating toward them.”

Following the G7 summit in Évian, France, on Wednesday, Meloni had said that the atmosphere at the meeting was “very positive” and that there were “no disagreements” between Trump and the other leaders.

Meloni had been attempting to build bridges between Europe and the Trump administration. However, tensions between the two sides reportedly began to increase over the war in the Middle East.

Their disagreement intensified in April when Meloni defended Pope Leo XIV’s anti-war position in response to Trump’s criticism of the Pope.

At the time, Meloni described Trump’s comments as “unacceptable.” In response, Trump criticized the Italian prime minister, saying: “I am surprised by her. I thought she had courage, but I was wrong.”

In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Trump also accused Meloni of not providing sufficient support to the United States on NATO-related matters.

He further warned that U.S. troops could be withdrawn from Italy because the country had not supported the United States during the Iran conflict.