Trump Claims Meloni Begged Him For A Photo At G7 Summit, Italian PM Says 'Completely Made Up'

Published 19 June 2026 · india

Trump Claims Meloni Begged Him For A Photo At G7 Summit, Italian PM Says 'Completely Made Up' Published By, Last Updated: June 19, 2026, 17:00

Trump Claims Meloni Begged Him For A Photo At G7 Summit, Italian PM Says 'Completely Made Up' Published By, Last Updated: June 19, 2026, 17:00 IST Trump claimed Meloni had "begged" him for a photograph at the recent G7 Summit. Meloni swiftly rejected the assertion, saying she and Italy "never beg". Rapid Read Italian PM Giorgia Meloni (L) with US President Donald Trump at the G7 Summit. (AP) US President Donald Trump sparked a controversy after claiming that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had “begged" him for a photograph at the recent G7 Summit in France. Meloni swiftly rejected the assertion, dismissing it as “completely made up." In an exclusive phone interview with an Italian media outlet, Trump claimed Meloni had “begged" him to take a photograph with her, adding that he agreed only because he “felt sorry" for her, reigniting a debate between the two leaders. Trump and Meloni met at the G7 Summit held in Evian, France from June 15 to 17. The two right-wing leaders had steadied a previously strained relationship following tensions this year over the war in Iran. “She’s probably happy I talked to her.

I didn’t have to talk to her," Trump was quoted as saying by Italy’s La7 TV channel in a brief interview. “She begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her." Meloni Hits Back At Trump’s Claim Meloni shared a video on her X handle, calling Trump’s claims “completely made up" and saying this was not the first time the US president has made disparaging remarks about his own allies. “Donald Trump’s statements are completely made up, I’m frankly appalled. I don’t know why the President of the United States behaves this way with his own allies; after all, it’s not the first time it’s happened," she said in the video. Io e l’Italia non imploriamo mai. pic.twitter.com/sTpKlqWB67— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) June 19, 2026 “I can only say it’s a shame that he doesn’t show the same determination with the enemies of the West, with the enemies of the United States, with leaderships toward which he instead proves much more accommodating. However, one thing he must remember: I and Italy never beg," she added.

Trump’s remarks sparked outrage from other Italian leaders. Meanwhile, Italy’s Deputy PM Antonio Tajani cancelled his upcoming visit to the US, calling Trump’s recent remarks “offensive" to entire Italy. “The serious and offensive words of President Trump towards Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy. For this reason, I have decided to cancel my visit to the United States scheduled for the next 21 and 22 June," he said on X. Le gravi e offensive parole del Presidente Trump nei confronti del Presidente del Consiglio Giorgia Meloni offendono tutta l’Italia. Per questo motivo ho deciso di annullare la mia visita negli Stati Uniti prevista per i prossimi 21 e 22 giugno.— Antonio Tajani (@Antonio_Tajani) June 19, 2026 Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said he could not imagine asking Meloni for a photo even under threat. “I can, however, imagine how much it cost her to set aside what Trump had said weeks ago, to serve the interests of Italy, of Europe, and of the West. And I imagine how much it will cost her not to comment as it deserves on this latest lapse in style by the US President," he said, adding that the comments do no good to both countries.