ROME, June 19, ( V7N)– Italy's foreign minister on Friday cancelled a visit to the United States over reported comments by US President Donald Trump that appeared to mock Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who had been due to visit the US on June 21 and 22, said on X that "the grave and offensive words of President Trump... offend the whole of Italy."
Meloni said she was "stunned" by Trump's comments to Italian channel La7, in which he reportedly said Meloni "wanted a picture with me so badly" at the G7 summit and he agreed only because he "felt sorry for her." He also suggested Meloni might be "happy that I talked to her, I didn't have to talk to her." Meloni called Trump's comments "made up," adding, "Neither I nor Italy ever beg."
Meloni wrote on X, "I don't know why the president of the United States behaves this way with his own allies. I can only say that it's a pity he doesn't show the same determination with enemies of the West, with enemies of the United States, with leaders with whom, instead, he is far more accommodating." At the end of the G7 summit on Wednesday, Meloni had spoken of a "very positive climate" and "no friction" between Trump and other world leaders.
Meloni has positioned herself as a bridge between Europe and the Trump administration, but the relationship came under strain during the Middle East war. Trump turned on Meloni in April after she defended Pope Leo XIV from his harsh criticism, with Meloni condemning Trump's remarks as "unacceptable" and Trump responding that he was "shocked at her" and accusing her of failing to help the United States with NATO.
Trump has threatened to pull US troops from Italy, saying Rome "has not been of any help to us" in the Iran war. The diplomatic spat marks a significant deterioration in relations between the two allies and raises questions about the future of the US-Italy partnership. Tajani's cancellation of his US visit underscores the depth of the rift between the two countries.
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