US President Donald Trump renewed his attacks on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday, deepening a rift between the two leaders that erupted following the G7 summit.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump accused Meloni of refusing to support his military action against Iran and said she was now seeking to repair relations with him in order to boost her domestic popularity.
“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.
"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."
Trump also repeated a claim that Meloni had "begged" him for a photograph during the G7 summit in France earlier this week, an allegation the Italian leader had dismissed in a fiery social media video as "completely fabricated." She added: "Neither I nor Italy ever beg."
The president doubled down on Saturday, writing that Meloni, who had long been seen as one Trump's key allies in Europe, had asked “over and over” for a photograph.
Meloni quickly fired back at Trump again on social media. In a statement on Instagram, Meloni wrote that Trump's "constant, unprovoked" personal attacks were "senseless."
“As for my popularity, being your friend certainly has not helped it, nor does it depend on my relationship with you," she wrote.
