What seemed to be one of the strongest relationships between Donald Trump and a European leader ended up becoming a new international controversy. The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, publicly accused the American president of lying after he claimed that she had “begged” to take a photo with him during the recent G7 summit in France.

The dispute sparked a strong reaction from the Italian government and threatens to deteriorate one of Trump's closest political ties in Europe.

Trump's statement that sparked the controversy

During an interview with the Italian channel LA7, Trump stated that Meloni insisted on taking a photo with him during the G7 leaders' meeting.

"He begged me to take a photo. He really wanted a photo with me," Trump declared.

The president even assured that he accepted the request because he “felt sorry for him,” comments that quickly generated outrage in Italy and provoked a direct response from the prime minister.

Until just a few days before, Meloni had publicly defended his relationship with Trump and had assured that the two maintained fluid communication despite their differences on some international issues.

Neither I nor Italy ever beg”, Meloni

The reaction did not take long to arrive. Through a video posted on Instagram, Meloni categorically rejected the American president's version.

"Donald Trump's statements are completely invented. Frankly, I am amazed," said the Italian president.

The conservative leader also questioned Trump's treatment of his Western allies.

“I don't understand why the president of the United States behaves like this with his own allies,” he said.

Meloni was even more forceful when concluding his message: “Neither I nor Italy ever beg.”

Their statements marked one of the toughest confrontations between both leaders since they began to build a close relationship based on shared conservative positions.

Tension escalates within the Italian government

The controversy was not limited to an exchange of statements. Various Italian officials came to Meloni's defense and openly criticized the American president.

The undersecretary of the Italian presidency, Giovanbattista Fazzolari, accused Trump of deteriorating the historic relationship between the United States and Europe, while the Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, announced the cancellation of an official visit to Miami scheduled for the coming days.