Italian PM Meloni Reacts to Trump's Insults, Cancels Visit
WHO:
Alternet - Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, age 72, is a veteran of Italian politics and was a spokesman for then-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in the 1990s.
Alternet - U.S. President Donald Trump, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Italian politician Alessandro Di Battista, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
WHAT:
Alternet - Tajani stated on X, "The serious and offensive words of President Trump towards Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy."
Alternet - Antonio Tajani canceled a planned visit to the United States due to Trump's comments about Meloni.
The Guardian - Trump claimed Meloni "begged" him for a picture at the G7 Summit, stating, "She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her."
The Guardian - Meloni responded to Trump's comments, stating they were "completely made up" and expressed her astonishment at his behavior towards allies.
WHERE:
Alternet - The G7 Summit took place in Évian-les-Bains, France.
The Guardian - Tajani's canceled visit was to the United States.
WHEN:
Alternet - Tajani's visit to the U.S. was scheduled for June 21-22.
WHY:
Reuters - The controversy marks a significant deterioration in relations between Trump and Meloni, who had appeared to stabilize their previously strained relationship during the G7 summit.
Alternet - Italian officials found Trump's use of the word "begged" offensive, prompting Tajani's cancellation of the visit.
The Guardian - Meloni criticized Trump for treating enemies of the West with greater indulgence than allies.
HOW:
The Guardian - Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto reacted by stating on X, "I can’t imagine @GiorgiaMeloni asking anyone for a photo, not even under threat."
The Guardian - Meloni used social media to respond to Trump's comments, posting a video clip stating, "neither I nor Italy ever beg" anyone for anything.
(UPDATED June 19, 2026 21:21 UTC)
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, a seasoned figure in Italian politics, expressed strong disapproval of President Trump's recent comments about Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, stating that they "offend all of Italy." This controversy highlights a notable decline in the relationship between Trump and Meloni, which had seemed to improve during the G7 summit. In response, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto remarked that he couldn't envision Meloni asking anyone for a photo, not even under duress.
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(UPDATED June 19, 2026 14:16 UTC)
Tensions are rising between the U.S. and Italy as President Trump’s recent comments about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have led to the cancellation of a planned visit by Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani to the United States, which was scheduled for June 21-22. Trump claimed that Meloni "begged" him for a picture at the G7 Summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, a statement that Meloni has vehemently denied, calling it "completely made up" and expressing her astonishment at Trump's behavior towards allies. In response, Meloni took to social media to assert that "neither I nor Italy ever beg" anyone for anything, highlighting the growing rift between the two nations.