Italian PM sees approval surge following clash with Trump

Criticism from US President Donald Trump has contributed to a 2 percentage point increase in the popularity rating of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

According to Adnkronos, citing data from the Demopolis research institute, which conducts public opinion polling, Meloni’s approval rating rose from 38% in May to 40% over the past 48 hours.

Meanwhile, Trump’s popularity among Italians has declined sharply, falling from 42% at the beginning of his 18-month tenure in the White House to 11%, according to Demopolis estimates.

The agency noted that Trump’s criticism of Italy helped reverse a downward trend in support for the Italian prime minister. The earlier decline had been attributed to rising prices linked to higher energy costs amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Last week, Trump and Meloni exchanged sharp public remarks. The US president accused the Italian prime minister of ingratitude and of attempting to boost her popularity through a shared photograph taken at the G7 summit. In response, Meloni advised Trump to reflect on his own popularity, while noting that her friendship with him had not contributed to her approval ratings.

By Vafa Guliyeva