Trump claims Meloni ‘begged’ for photo at G7 Summit:Italian PM calls remarks ‘made up’; says, ‘neither I nor Italy ever beg’

US President Donald Trump has sparked a diplomatic row after claiming that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni “begged” him to take a photograph with her during the recent G7 summit. In an interview with Italian broadcaster La7, Trump reportedly said Meloni wanted a picture with him “so badly” and that he agreed only because he “felt sorry for her.” He also suggested she was “happy” that he spoke with her at the summit. Meloni swiftly rejected the comments, calling them “completely made up” and expressing astonishment at Trump’s remarks. In a public response, she said: “Neither I nor Italy ever beg,” while accusing the US president of showing greater indulgence toward the West’s adversaries than its allies. The exchange comes amid growing tensions between Trump and Meloni, whose relationship has cooled in recent months over disagreements on Iran and Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo. Once considered close political allies, the latest war of words highlights a sharp deterioration in ties between the two leaders. At G7 Summit, Trump tells Meloni ‘you’ve abandoned me’ Relations between US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni appeared warmer at the G7 Summit in France on Tuesday after tensions earlier this year. As the two leaders met on the sidelines of the summit, Trump jokingly told Meloni, “You’ve abandoned me.” Meloni responded, “That’s not true, we’ve always been friends.”