06/19/2026
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni posted a video response after President Trump claimed she “begged” him for a photo at the G7 summit.
In the video, Meloni called Trump’s comments “completely fabricated,” said she was “appalled” by the remarks, and questioned why he seems to reserve this kind of rhetoric for America’s allies rather than its adversaries.
The two leaders were once viewed as close political allies, making the public rebuke especially notable.
Italy’s foreign minister publicly defended Meloni and canceled a planned trip to the United States, while other senior Italian officials condemned Trump’s remarks as offensive to both Meloni and Italy.
Meloni ended her message with a line that quickly spread across social media:
“Neither I nor Italy ever beg.”