Donald Trump insists Italian PM Meloni 'asked, over and over' for photo with him at G7

US President Donald Trump has reignited his public spat with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, claiming she repeatedly asked to be photographed with him during the recent G7 summit and accusing her of trying to repair ties with Washington after previously opposing his stance on Iran.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said on Saturday that Meloni had asked "over and over" for a picture with him during the G7 meeting in France, despite what he described as her refusal to back the United States on preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

"Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her numbers up. No thanks!!!" Trump wrote.


The remarks come a day after Meloni forcefully rejected a similar claim by Trump that she had "begged" him for a photograph at the summit.

This is what his full post said, "Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked, over and over, for a picture with me during the G-7 meeting in France. She is doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity, possibly because she turned down the United States of America, a Country that truly loves and protects Italy, when it came to denying Iran from obtaining or developing a Nuclear Weapon (But so did NATO, for that matter! ). She wouldn’t even let us use Italy’s landing strips or runways, a great logistical inconvenience, and this despite the fact the U.S. contributes hundreds of Billions of Dollars a year to protect Italy, and other 'so-called' NATO Allies. Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her 'numbers up.' No thanks!!! President DJT"

Also Read: Meloni fights back after Trump tells Italian TV she 'begged' for photo with him at G7

Responding in a video statement on Friday, Meloni called Trump's version of events "completely fabricated" and said she was "frankly stunned" by the comments.

"Italy and I do not beg," she said.

In his latest post, Trump went beyond the photo controversy, accusing Meloni of refusing to support US efforts to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. He also claimed Italy did not allow the US military to use Italian landing strips and runways, creating what he described as a major logistical challenge.