Italy's Meloni pushes back on Trump's 'fabricated' claim as top diplomat cancels U.S. trip

By — Nicole Winfield, Associated Press Nicole Winfield, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/italys-meloni-pushes-back-on-trumps-fabricated-claim-as-top-diplomat-cancels-u-s-trip Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Italy's Meloni pushes back on Trump's 'fabricated' claim as top diplomat cancels U.S. trip Politics Jun 19, 2026 11:18 AM EDT ROME (AP) — The Italian government closed ranks on Friday to slam U.S. President Donald Trump over his claim that Premier Giorgia Meloni had "begged" for a photo with him during the recent G7 summit, a pushback that suggested the longtime U.S. ally had had enough of Trump's boasting. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani abruptly cancelled a planned trip to the United States this weekend, calling Trump's claims "serious and offensive" toward Meloni and all of Italy. Meloni for her part posted a video calling Trump's claims "completely fabricated" and expressing astonishment that he would invent such things about an ally. She concluded: "Italy and I do not beg." Trump had made the comments in an interview broadcast Friday morning on the La7 network. The La7 correspondent had asked Trump about Ukraine, but Trump raised Meloni and the conversation turned to their meeting during the just-concluded G7 meeting in Evian-les-Bains, France. Meloni and Trump were filmed speaking at several moments, including alone on a small sofa. According to La7, Trump said Meloni had "begged" him for a photo-op. Trump said he wasn't obliged to do it but that he felt sorry for her and agreed, La7 said. The broadcaster has a dubbed version of the conversation online, not the original English audio. Meloni is astonished and defiant In her video, Meloni said she was responding to Trump's claims because "certain things deserve an immediate response." "Donald Trump's statements are completely fabricated. I am frankly stunned," she said. "I don't know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his own allies. After all, this isn't the first time this has happened." It was an apparent reference to an interview Trump gave to Italian daily Corriere della Sera in April in which he criticized Meloni's refusal to back the U.S.-Israel war in Iran. Meloni didn't respond publicly at the time. By Friday, it appeared she had had enough of his boasts and broadsides. "I can only say that it's a shame he doesn't show the same resolve toward the enemies of the West, toward the enemies of the United States — toward leaders with whom he, on the other hand, is much more accommodating," Meloni said Friday. "But there's one thing he must remember: Italy and I do not beg." U.S. President Donald Trump walks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during the G7 summit, in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 16, 2026. Photo by Christian Hartmann/Reuters. The White House did not return an immediate request for comment on Meloni's remarks. Meloni had