Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated she was “deeply affected” by the direct attacks from U.S. President Donald Trump but has no intention of escalating the conflict further. She believes there are no risks of negative consequences for Italy as relations between the U.S. and Italy are reportedly strong. Meloni emphasized that bilateral cooperation between Rome and Washington should “return to normal.”
While she refrained from commenting on expert theories suggesting that Trump’s behavior was linked to her firm stance or an attempt to divert attention from complex negotiations regarding Iran, she maintained that Italy’s foreign policy has remained consistent for over 80 years. She advocated for maintaining robust ties between the U.S. and the European Union, viewing them as the “foundation of Western strength.”
Additionally, Meloni confirmed that the Italian government would participate in the U.S. Independence Day celebrations on July 2 at the American embassy, despite a previous cancellation of a visit to the U.S. by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani amid the tensions with Trump.
During this ongoing strain, it has been reported that Meloni and Trump had a contentious relationship following her refusal to support the U.S. stance in the Iran conflict. On June 19, media outlets noted Trump’s claim that Meloni had “pleaded” for a joint photo during the G7 summit in France, a statement she vehemently denied, calling it a fabrication. She accused him of disrespect towards allies.
Another incident occurred at the G7 summit when Meloni approached Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, leaning on a chair with a posed stance, which sparked significant discussion on social media.
On June 20, Trump declared on his social media platform Truth Social that he no longer intended to maintain friendly relations with Meloni, citing political disagreements and her positions on key international issues. In response, Meloni expressed that she does not intend to pursue the matter further.
