Italian politicians hit back at Trump over criticism of Giorgia Meloni

Italian politicians have criticised US President Donald Trump’s attacks on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, according to the newspaper La Repubblica.

Democratic Party secretary Elly Schlein, for example, defended Meloni following what she described as “very serious” attacks from Trump.

“Italy is a free and sovereign country, and our constitution clearly states: Italy rejects war. No foreign leader can afford to insult and threaten our country and our government. We call for a unanimous condemnation of this,” she said.

Italian politician and former Minister of Economic Development Carlo Calenda expressed hope that Italians would unite in rejecting Trump’s attacks on Meloni. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also defended Meloni, stressing that Western unity “is built on mutual loyalty, respect, and honesty.”

“Until now, President Trump considered Giorgia Meloni a courageous woman. He was not wrong, because she is a woman who never stops expressing her opinion. And regarding Pope Leo XIV, she said exactly what we, Italian citizens, all think. The Prime Minister and the government will always defend only Italy’s interests,” he noted.

The recent tension between Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni has its roots in a shift within their previously close political alignment, especially after Italy began distancing itself from some US positions on the Iran conflict and broader Western military involvement. 

According to international reporting, Meloni—who was once seen as one of Trump’s strongest European allies—has increasingly criticised aspects of his foreign policy, particularly his approach to the war in Iran and related security decisions, which marked a clear turning point in their relations.

The friction escalated after Trump publicly expressed “shock” at Meloni’s positions, accusing her of lacking courage and not sufficiently supporting US-led initiatives on NATO commitments and energy security, particularly regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

By Jeyhun Aghazada