Donald Trump has reignited his feud with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni in a fresh social media post.
Trump shared a picture of Meloni, who has been previously referred to in the press as the “Trump whisperer,” looking up at the U.S. president and smiling on Truth Social on Sunday evening.
A caption across the top of the picture read, “Restraining order needed.”
Previously, Trump has sung Meloni’s praises, describing her a “beautiful young woman”.
However, the pair became embroiled in a public feud following a Truth Social post on 20 June, in which Trump accused Meloni of asking for a picture with him “over and over” at the G7 Summit in France.
“She is doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity, possibly because she turned down the United States of America, a Country that truly loves and protects Italy, when it came to denying Iran from obtaining or developing a Nuclear Weapon,” he claimed.
Trump went on to suggest that Meloni wanted to be “friends again” to get her “numbers up,” and criticized her for not allowing the U.S. to use Italy’s landing strips during the United States’ war with Iran.
In a social media post hitting back at Trump, Meloni slammed the president for his “senseless” and “constant, unprovoked attacks.”
“As for my popularity, being your friend has certainly not helped it, nor does it depend on my relationship with you,” she jabbed. “My popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours.”
Meloni also noted that the use of Italian bases “is governed by agreements that we have always respected, and that cannot be violated as long as I am prime minister”.
Trump’s latest post about Meloni came amid a flurry of other images featuring Trump’s political adversaries.
In one doctored image shared by Trump, former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama could be seen standing on the steps of a graffiti-laden Air Force One. The presidential plane was stamped with messages reading “Yes we can,” “BLM,” and “OBAMA.”
In another post, he uploaded a side-by-side image of First Lady Melania Trump sporting a wide-brimmed black hat and former First Lady Hillary Clinton donning a black hat and sunglasses.
Trump also shared several images of himself walking and addressing crowds.
