A fresh diplomatic tension has emerged between the United States and Italy over the G7 summit. A comment by US President Donald Trump about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has sparked wide discussion in both countries’ political circles.
According to US media, Trump claimed in an interview with the Italian television channel La7 that, on the sidelines of the recent G7 summit, Meloni had “begged” to take a photo with him.
Trump said: “She [Meloni] begged me to take a photo with her. She was very desperate to take a photo with me. I actually wouldn’t have taken the photo, but I agreed because I felt bad for her.”
Soon after Trump’s comment, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni responded on social media. She called Trump’s statement “completely made up,” saying that neither she nor Italy ever “begs” for anything from anyone.
Meloni added that she was surprised by such a comment from Trump, and also questioned why the US president treated his allies this way.
In a message, Meloni said: “I don’t know why the US president treats his allies this way. This is not the first time. What is disappointing is that he does not take such a hard line against the enemies of the Western world and the United States; rather, he shows their leaders far greater tolerance.”
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reacted sharply to the episode. Calling Trump’s comment insulting to Italy, he announced the cancellation of a trip to the United States.
In a post on the social-media platform X, Tajani said: “President Trump’s serious and insulting comments about Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have insulted all of Italy. I have therefore decided to cancel my trip to the United States scheduled for 21 and 22 June.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report