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After the G7 meeting, Donald Trump gave an interview with an Italian broadcaster. In it, he said: "She [Italian PM Giorgia Meloni] begged me to take a photo with her. She wanted a photo with me so badly. I might not even have done it, but I felt sorry for her." Meloni, up until now, had been one of the very few European leaders who supported Trump. She was the only European leader to show up for his inauguration in Jan. 2025. He seemed to genuinely like her (probably in no small part because she is a good-looking woman). Meloni said she was absolutely stunned.
She tweeted this video in response to his remark, expressing her anger. In it, she speaks in Italian, even though her English is quite good. However, there are subtitles. It ends with: "Italy and I never beg." Her fury is apparent.
Why did Trump make a gratuitous swipe at Meloni? With him it could be any of: (1) He doesn't believe women belong in positions of power, (2) She refused to let him use Italian air fields during the war in Iran or (3) He was in a foul mood because he was unable to bully Iran and took it out on a 5'2" woman who he thought couldn't fight back. Basically, it is all about his view that he should dominate everyone he comes in contact with, and that holds double or triple for women.
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) took the side of Meloni. Greene tweeted: "I believe @GiorgiaMeloni, she's great!" Trump lies. Constantly." This is not the first time Greene has gone after Trump. Her attacks seem to have ramped up after she left Congress.
The response from Italian politicians was swift. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajni canceled his trip to the U.S. scheduled for this week. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto tweeted: "I cannot imagine Giorgia Meloni asking anyone for a photograph, not even under threat." Maurizio Lupi, leader of Noi Moderati, said the comments were unjustified and unacceptable and added "Italy begs no one." Even Meloni's opponents attacked Trump. Five Star Movement Leader Giuseppe Conte said: "Italy does not deserve to be so publicly humiliated." Azione leader Carlo Calenda described Trump as a serial liar. All across the spectrum, Italian politiicans criticized Trump.
Trump can never let things be, so he then bleated: "Italian Prime Minister Gigiorgia [sic] 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!)." Meloni responded with: "As for my popularity, being your friend certainly has not helped it, nor does it 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."
We have seen this movie over and over again. It always ends the same way. People who support Trump are always taking a huge risk. In the end, he throws them all under the bus, as Meloni has now learned the hard way. Bibi, guess what? You're next. (V)