Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has defended her decision to build close ties with U.S. President Donald Trump despite recent public disagreements between the two leaders.
Speaking at the conclusion of the NATO summit in Ankara, Meloni said she had no regrets about investing political capital in maintaining a strong relationship with Trump. Although tensions have surfaced in recent months, she insisted that her broader commitment to Western unity remains unchanged.
Meloni Says She Has No Regrets
During the summit, Meloni was asked whether recent disagreements had changed her opinion about working closely with Trump.
She responded firmly, saying, “No, I absolutely don’t regret anything I’ve done.”
Meloni explained that her approach has always focused on strengthening cooperation among Western allies. According to her, that policy did not begin with Trump’s presidency.
Instead, she said it has guided her relationships with international partners over the years.
She added, “I made that political investment because I believe in the unity of the West. It’s not a strategy I adopted with Trump’s arrival, but one I have pursued with all my counterparts.”
Recent Disagreements Strained Relations
Although Meloni was previously considered one of Trump’s closest European allies, relations have become more complicated in recent months.
The first public disagreement emerged in April after Meloni criticized Trump’s remarks directed at Pope Leo. Those comments followed the Pope’s condemnation of the Iran war.
Earlier, in March, Italy denied permission for U.S. military aircraft traveling to the Middle East to land at the Sigonella air base in Sicily.
More recently, Trump shared a social media post featuring Meloni looking toward him. The image included the caption, “RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED”.
Meloni chose not to respond publicly to that post.
Shared Priorities Still Remain
Despite the recent tensions, Meloni said both leaders continue to agree on several important issues.
She acknowledged that, “things are going the way we have seen” between herself and Trump. However, she stressed that they still share similar views on immigration and opposition to what she described as “woke culture”.
Her remarks suggested that policy differences have not erased areas of political agreement between the two leaders.
Trump Softens His Tone
Meanwhile, Trump adopted a more conciliatory approach during the NATO summit.
He described Meloni as “a nice person” while also repeating his criticism that Italy did not provide greater support for his military actions against Iran.
Although disagreements remain, both leaders appeared to signal a willingness to continue diplomatic engagement.
The latest exchanges highlight the evolving relationship between Meloni and Trump. While recent disputes have attracted international attention, both leaders continue to maintain dialogue and emphasize areas where their political priorities still overlap.
