Trump deepens the dispute with Italian Melanie, who says that his “unjustified attacks are meaningless” (AFP)
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni responded to US President Donald Trump after he indicated that she was trying to strengthen her domestic political standing by repairing relations with Washington, and asked the US president to focus on his popularity instead.She called his attacks “unprovoked and senseless” and said her popularity depended on her “ability to defend Italy’s national interest.”
She said: “President Trump, these constant, unprovoked attacks are meaningless. As for my popularity, being your friend has certainly not helped it, and it does not depend on my relationship with you. My popularity depends on my ability to defend Italy’s national interest, and that is exactly what I have always done.”“This is also what I did with regard to US military bases in Italy. Their use is governed by agreements that we always respect, which cannot be violated as long as I am Prime Minister. Italy remains a sovereign state. In any case, my popularity is not your concern. I suggest you focus on your popularity,” she said, responding to Trump’s claim that Italy did not allow the United States to use its runways.
Trump, after returning from the G7, repeatedly claimed that Meloni “begged” to take a selfie with him, a claim the Italian prime minister denied.
Repeating that claim on Saturday, Trump said: “Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has asked, repeatedly, to take a picture with me during the G7 meeting in France. She is doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity, perhaps because she has rejected the United States of America, a country that truly loves and protects Italy, when it comes to denying Iran a nuclear weapon (but NATO did too, for that matter!).”“It will not even allow us to use Italy’s landing strips or runways, which represents a major logistical inconvenience, and this despite the fact that the United States contributes hundreds of billions of dollars annually to protect Italy and other NATO allies.”
Now that the United States has defeated Iran militarily, it wants to be friends again in order to increase its numbers.”Meloni’s government, which came to power in 2022, recently saw its support rates recover to about 35% after a gradual decline during 2025, while her Brotherhood of Italy party continues to lead opinion polls with a support rate of about 28%.In contrast, Trump, who was sworn in as President of the United States in January 2025, recorded a modest one-point increase in his approval rating to 36% in a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, although this percentage remains close to the lowest levels of his political career despite the decline of public concerns about the cost of living.
Who do you think has a better understanding of international relations, Meloni or Trump?
