Trump says "no thanks" to "friendship" with Italy's Meloni

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is seeking closer ties with Washington following what he described as the United States’ military defeat of Iran, saying she now wants to improve her domestic standing.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump suggested that after the United States “defeated Iran militarily,” Meloni was now attempting to rebuild relations with Washington to boost her popularity at home, Caliber.Az reports. 

“Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her ‘numbers up.’ No thanks!!!” he wrote. 

Trump also said Meloni had repeatedly asked him for a photograph during the G7 summit in France and criticised her political stance on U.S. policy toward Iran.

He further claimed that she had resisted U.S. requests during discussions involving Iran’s nuclear programme and NATO allies, including what he described as restrictions on the use of Italian airfields for logistical purposes.

According to Trump, Italy’s position created “a great logistical inconvenience” for U.S. operations, despite Washington’s financial and military support for NATO allies.

A reminder that earlier, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelled a planned visit to the United States following Trump's previous comments about Meloni at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, where he said Meloni had “begged” for a photograph and appeared pleased to engage with him.

Meloni rejected the claims, calling them “completely made up” and saying neither she nor Italy “ever beg,” while video footage from the summit showed the two leaders seated together during discussions.

By Sabina Mammadli