Trump and Meloni's Rift Deepens at NATO Summit

WHO:

Alternet - President Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are involved in a strained relationship.

Alternet - Belgium’s defense minister, Theo Francken, commented on the situation.

Alternet - Veteran U.S. diplomat and ambassador, Daniel Fried, provided insights on Trump's actions.

Alternet - Sébastien Maillard, from Chatham House, analyzed the political implications for Meloni.

Alternet - Georgios Samaras, professor of public policy at King’s College London, discussed Trump's influence.

Alternet - Astrid Brodén of the Swedish Institute of International Affairs noted European allies' perspectives.

WHAT:

Alternet - President Trump shared an edited social media post featuring Meloni with the message “restraining order needed.”

Alternet - Meloni described Trump’s claim that she “begged” him for a photo as “completely made up.”

Alternet - Meloni stated, “Neither I nor Italy ever beg,” and suggested Trump focus on his own popularity.

NY Post - President Trump walked past Meloni without greeting her at the NATO summit.

WHERE:

Alternet - The NATO summit took place in Turkey.

NY Post - The incident occurred during a group photo of NATO leaders.

WHY:

Alternet - The rift between Trump and Meloni was caused by Trump's “sexist insult” and previous claims about her.

Alternet - Analysts suggest that standing up to Trump is becoming popular among European leaders due to his declining influence.

HOW:

Alternet - Meloni responded to Trump’s claims through social media, emphasizing her independence and political standing.

Alternet - Analysts noted that leaders are increasingly willing to defy Trump, reflecting a shift in political dynamics in Europe.

(UPDATED July 9, 2026 15:59 UTC)

President Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are currently experiencing a strained relationship, highlighted by Trump's edited social media post that included the message “restraining order needed” alongside a photo of Meloni. In response, Meloni dismissed Trump's claim that she "begged" him for a photo, asserting that neither she nor Italy ever begs and suggesting that Trump should focus on his own popularity instead. This tension was evident at the NATO summit in Turkey, where Trump notably walked past Meloni without greeting her, a move that analysts believe reflects a growing willingness among European leaders to stand up to Trump's influence.