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International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
World
Bernadette B. Tixon

Quick Facts on Giorgia Meloni: The Once-Close Trump Ally Who Is Now Publicly Defying Him

Meloni rebukes Trump’s ‘begging’ claim, cancels U.S. visit after G7 spat. (Credit: The White House/WikiMedia Commons)

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was once considered one of Donald Trump's closest political allies in Europe. That relationship appeared to unravel publicly on 19 June 2026, when Meloni posted a video on Instagram flatly rejecting Trump's claim that she had pleaded with him for a photograph during the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France. 'Donald Trump's statements are completely fabricated,' she said. 'Neither I nor Italy ever beg.'

According to a news outlet, Trump said Meloni had begged him for a photo at the summit and that he agreed only because he felt sorry for her. The Italian government swiftly pushed back, with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelling a planned visit to the United States in response.

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