Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
US President Donald Trump has reignited his feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, posting a mocking image on social media just a day before both leaders are due to meet at the NATO summit in Turkey.
The post, shared on Trump’s Truth Social platform, featured a doctored image of Meloni looking at the US president with the caption: “RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED.”
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The latest swipe drew a measured response from Rome, where senior ministers sought to downplay the row and stressed that relations between Italy and the United States remain more important than personal disagreements between leaders.
ITALY PLAYS DOWN LATEST TRUMP POST
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto dismissed claims that the latest exchange would damage ties between the two NATO allies.
“I did not have any reaction (to the post), the fundamental thing is to maintain relations with a key ally like the USA,” Crosetto told Sky TG24, as quoted by AFP.
“People come and go but relationships remain,” he added.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also sought to calm the situation, saying he remained confident that the partnership between Rome and Washington would outlast political disputes.
“I am sure that transatlantic relations go well beyond individual comments,” Tajani said.
Meloni herself did not publicly respond to Trump’s latest post.
FEUD THAT BEGAN AFTER G7 SUMMIT
The latest exchange is the newest chapter in a dispute that erupted after the recent G7 summit.
Last month, Trump claimed Meloni had repeatedly asked him for a photograph during the gathering and said he agreed only because he “felt sorry for her.” He also accused the Italian leader of trying to repair relations with Washington for domestic political reasons after Italy declined to back US military action against Iran.
Meloni strongly rejected those claims.
“These constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless,” she said.
She also challenged Trump directly over his repeated criticism.
“Being your friend certainly has not helped” her popularity, she said, before adding: “I suggest you focus on yours.“
In another interview, Meloni dismissed Trump’s version of events surrounding the G7 summit.
“Italy and I never beg,” she said.
“I am not anti-American today; I was not kneeling yesterday. I am a person who believes that the West is stronger united, who believes that Italy is stronger in a united West, and has worked and continues to work for this. After that, however, solid relationships are also based on frankness, and I am a frank person.”
RELATIONSHIP HAS COOLED
Trump and Meloni were viewed as natural political allies, sharing similar positions on immigration, conservative politics and transatlantic security. Meloni was the only European leader to attend Trump’s inauguration in 2025, and she had positioned herself as a bridge between Washington and European capitals.
However, their relationship has cooled significantly this year.
Differences emerged over Italy’s reluctance to support US military operations against Iran and over Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo’s stance on the Middle East conflict. Those disagreements gradually spilled into public view, leading to increasingly personal exchanges between the two leaders.
The latest social media post comes at an awkward moment, with Trump and Meloni expected to attend the NATO summit in Turkey this week. Trump has repeatedly criticised European NATO members over defence spending and burden-sharing, while Italy is expected to face pressure from allies over military commitments.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
