The G7 Summit in France has sparked a heated feud between US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Trump claimed Meloni 'begged' for a photo op, but she fired back, saying his statements are 'completely made up.'
Tensions between the US and Italy escalated after Trump's remarks, with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelling his visit to the US. Meloni accused Trump of treating allies with 'far greater indulgence' than enemies.
Trump doubled down on his claims, saying Meloni is not doing well in Italy due to her declining popularity. Meloni responded, saying her popularity depends on her ability to protect Italy's national interests, not her relationship with Trump.
The feud has raised concerns about the discolouration of US-Italy ties, which have been strained since the Middle East conflict. Meloni was once a vocal supporter of Trump, but her criticism of his remarks on Pope Leo led to a bitter fallout.
