20/06/2026 18:26 - Internacionales
Primera ministra italiana con expresión firme respondiendo a declaraciones ofensivas, bandera italiana de fondo, ambiente de conferencia de prensa oficial
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed being "astonished" on Friday, June 19, 2026, after U.S. President Donald Trump claimed in an interview with Italian broadcaster La7 that she had "begged" him for a photo together during the recent G7 summit in France.
"At the G7 summit, she begged me to take a photo. I felt sorry for her," Trump stated according to the released transcript. "She begged me to take a photo with her! She really wanted a photo with me. I wouldn't have accepted, but I felt sorry for her!" the U.S. president added.
The Italian leader immediately responded with a video on her social media accounts: "Donald Trump's statements are completely invented. Honestly, I am astonished."
"Neither I nor Italy ever beg"
"I don't know why the President of the United States behaves this way with his allies. Besides, this isn't the first time it has happened."
"I can only say that I regret he doesn't show the same determination with the enemies of the West, with the enemies of the United States."
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced the cancellation of his scheduled visit to the United States on June 21-22, 2026, following the "serious and offensive words from President Trump toward Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which offend all of Italy."
The relationship between Trump and Meloni, once political allies, has significantly deteriorated in recent months due to multiple disagreements:
| Point of Conflict | Details |
|---|---|
| War in Iran | Meloni did not support Trump's position in the conflict that began in February 2026 |
| Trade Tariffs | Differences over tariff policies between the U.S. and the EU |
| War in Ukraine | Divergent positions on the ongoing conflict |
| War in Gaza | Disagreements on Middle East conflict approach |
| Criticism of Pope Leo XIV | Trump criticized Meloni in April 2026 for defending the Pope |
Meloni attended Trump's inauguration in 2025 and met with him at Mar-a-Lago. Italy is the third largest trading partner of the United States in the European Union, adding economic weight to this diplomatic tension.
The G7 (Group of Seven) is an intergovernmental forum of the world's most economically advanced democracies: Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The latest summit was held at the Palace of Versailles, France, in June 2026. The G7 meets annually to discuss global economic policy, international security, and other pressing issues.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed solidarity with Meloni from Spain. The incident raises concerns in European diplomatic circles about the state of transatlantic relations.
Italy and the United States share deep historic ties, with millions of Americans of Italian descent. The relationship is crucial for NATO, trade (over $80 billion in bilateral trade annually), and Mediterranean security. This public diplomatic spat signals potential shifts in Western alliance dynamics at a critical global moment.
Sources: Deutsche Welle, EFE, AFP
Alfredo S. Quiroga
