Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for relations with the United States to return to normal following a public dispute with President Donald Trump. Her remarks signalled Rome’s intention to ease tensions after days of sharp exchanges.
Speaking at an event in Rome, Meloni said she did not intend to prolong the disagreement. She added that restoring constructive dialogue remained an important priority for both countries.
The dispute began after Trump claimed during an interview with an Italian television channel that Meloni had “begged” him for a photograph at the recent G7 summit in France. However, the Italian prime minister immediately rejected the allegation and accused the US president of fabricating the story.
Tensions escalated after Trump repeated the claim on social media. He also accused Meloni of trying to improve relations with Washington for domestic political benefit after Italy declined to support US military action against Iran.
In response, Meloni issued one of her strongest criticisms of Trump. She described his repeated attacks as “senseless” and insisted that her political support depended on defending Italy’s national interests.
Writing on Instagram, Meloni said her popularity reflected her commitment to protecting Italy’s sovereignty rather than maintaining personal ties with the US president. Furthermore, she defended Italy’s position on American military bases, saying their use remained governed by existing bilateral agreements.
Meloni also stressed that Italy would honour those agreements without compromising its sovereignty. She added that her domestic political standing was not Trump’s concern.
Meanwhile, Trump intensified his criticism by claiming Meloni faced growing political difficulties at home. He also linked her position to Italy’s refusal to allow the use of Italian airfields during the conflict with Iran.
The comments prompted a strong response from Italian officials. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelled a planned visit to the United States and described Trump’s remarks as grave and offensive. Other senior ministers also warned that the dispute could damage bilateral relations.
Despite the tensions, Meloni’s latest comments indicate that Italy is seeking to de-escalate the dispute and restore stable diplomatic engagement with Washington.
