Trump and Italy's Giorgia Meloni used to be buds. But a rift is widening

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrives to a round table meeting at the EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, June 18, 2026. Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP hide caption toggle caption Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has accused President Trump of fabricating a story that she "begged" him for a photo at the G7 summit, in a stunning public break between the two leaders once considered allies. "Donald Trump's statements are completely fabricated. I am frankly stunned," Meloni said in a video posted on X Friday. "I don't ‌know why ⁠the president of the United States behaves like this toward his own allies. After all, it is not the first time." She added: "I can only say it's a shame he doesn't show the same resolve toward with the enemies of the West and toward the enemies of the United States — toward leaders with whom he, on the other hand, is much more accommodating. But there is one thing he should remember: Italy and I do not beg." Meloni was responding to comments Trump allegedly made during a phone interview with an Italian journalist. NPR has not been able to independently verify what Trump said. Italian television broadcaster La7 aired a dubbed version of the interview and Italian politicians have been reacting to it. According to La7's Italian translation, Trump said that Meloni was likely happy he talked to her and "begged" to have their picture taken together. …