Meloni Responds to Trump's Attacks, Calls Them Unprovoked

WHO:

South China Morning Post - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

AP News - President Donald Trump

AP News - Italy’s foreign minister

WHAT:

South China Morning Post - Meloni responded to Trump’s provocations, stating he lies and panders to enemies while turning on friends.

AP News - Trump claimed Meloni “begged” for a photo during the G7 meeting, which Meloni called “completely fabricated.”

AP News - Meloni described Trump’s attacks as “constant, unprovoked” and “senseless.”

AP News - Meloni’s government defended her, leading to the cancellation of a planned trip to the U.S. by Italy’s foreign minister.

WHERE:

South China Morning Post - G7 gathering location: Évian-les-Bains, France

AP News - Trump made his comments while at Camp David, the presidential retreat.

WHEN:

AP News - The G7 summit took place on June 16, 2026.

AP News - Trump’s comments were aired on a Friday, following the G7 summit.

WHY:

South China Morning Post - The spat escalated after Trump’s previous praise of Meloni and her transition from a populist to a practical politician.

AP News - Trump criticized Meloni for Italy’s lack of cooperation during the Iran war and her declining popularity.

HOW:

AP News - Trump used social media to express his views about Meloni, including a misspelled name that he later corrected.

AP News - Meloni responded to Trump’s comments through a statement on Instagram, emphasizing her focus on Italy’s national interests.

(UPDATED June 21, 2026 11:50 UTC)

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has strongly responded to President Trump's provocations, accusing him of lying and pandering to enemies while turning against friends. In a heated exchange following the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, Trump claimed Meloni "begged" for a photo, a statement she called "completely fabricated," while describing his attacks as "constant, unprovoked" and "senseless." As tensions escalated, Meloni's government defended her, leading to the cancellation of a planned trip to the U.S. by Italy's foreign minister.