Giorgia Meloni rejected Donald Trump’s G7 photo claim on Friday, June 19, 2026, calling the account “completely made up.” The dispute has since moved beyond a personal exchange, with Italy’s foreign minister canceling a planned visit to the United States.
The Italian prime minister responded after Trump told Italian broadcaster La7 that she had strongly wanted a photograph with him during the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, held from Monday, June 15, through Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
Trump said Giorgia Meloni was eager to take a photograph with him during the G7 summit and claimed he agreed only because he felt sorry for her. Meloni rejected that account as “completely made up.”
Meloni responds to Trump’s G7 photo claim
In a video posted on social media, Meloni said she was astonished by Trump’s remarks and questioned why he spoke so harshly about allies. She concluded, “Neither I nor Italy ever beg.” Watch Giorgia Meloni’s reaction on X.
Photographs from the summit showed Trump and Meloni speaking together, but the images did not establish how the disputed photograph was arranged.
Tajani cancels planned US visit
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled a U.S. trip scheduled for Sunday, June 21, and Monday, June 22, 2026. He said Trump’s comments were offensive not only to Meloni but to Italy.
Giovanbattista Fazzolari, a senior Meloni ally, also accused Trump of weakening historic transatlantic relations and harming the United States’ standing in Europe.
Why the Meloni-Trump dispute matters
The confrontation marks a sharp change in a relationship once viewed as one of Trump’s closest political partnerships in Europe. Meloni attended his 2025 inauguration, but disagreements later emerged over Iran and Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV.
The G7 photo dispute now adds pressure to U.S.-Italy relations and raises broader questions about trust between Washington and European allies at a time of major security and diplomatic challenges.
