I never beg, nor does Italy, Meloni says responding to Trump

Premier Giorgia Meloni on Friday said

US President Donald Trump's assertion that she begged him to

have a photo with her during this week's G7 summit is false.

"Donald Trump's declarations are completely fabricated," Meloni

said in an Instagram post.

"Frankly, I am stunned.

"Italy and I never beg," she continued.

"Some things deserve an immediate response.

"I don't know why the US president behaves this way towards his

allies.

"It's not the first time it's happened, I can only say it's

unfortunate he doesn't show the same determination towards the

West's enemies".

Trump said Meloni begged for a photo in an interview with La7

television's Aria che Tira programme.

At the start of the interview, Trump immediately steered the

conversation towards Meloni, asking "how is your prime

minister?.

"What did she say when she met me? She's probably happy I talked

to her," he added.

"I didn't have to talk to her. I don't know what to say.

"She begged me to take a picture with her.

"She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn't have taken

it, but I felt sorry for her".

Meloni had been big friends with Trump, and she was the only

European leader invited to his inauguration last year, until the

Iran war.

The Italian government's stance included refusing the US

permission to use an air base in Sicily for raids during the

war.

Trump accused Italy of not being helpful and said Meloni had

changed.

The premier also drew Trump's ire by defending Pope Leo XIV

after the president said the pontiff was "weak on crime" and

"terrible for foreign policy" following his criticism of the

war.

After the G7 summit Meloni said that her relations with Trump

were unchanged, there were no "recriminations" and that the two

leaders understood each other's points of view.

During one meeting at the G7, Trump said he had been "abandoned"

by Meloni in an exchange at which European Council President

Antonio Costa and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also took

part in.

When Costa asked if Meloni and Trump had made up, the Italian

premier said "we've always been friends".

Trump smiled back, saying "I was abandoned."

"No, you were not," the prime minister immediately responded,

laughing.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA