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.