Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Monday that ties between Rome and Washington should be restored to normal after a public spat with U.S. President Donald Trump last week. Addressing reporters at an event in Rome, Meloni made clear she does not plan to continue fueling the disagreement.
The episode originated last Friday when Meloni accused Trump of inventing a story about her. The U.S. president had told an Italian television channel that she had "begged" him to pose for a photograph with her at a recent G7 summit held in France. Meloni responded by saying the account was fabricated.
In her remarks at the Rome event, Meloni emphasized that Italy's foreign policy will remain unchanged in the aftermath of the exchange. She also said she does not expect the disagreement to have a detrimental effect on the Italian economy.
Until the confrontation, Meloni and Trump had been seen as close allies. The public exchange marked a visible falling out between the two leaders, a development Meloni signaled she does not wish to prolong.
Background of the dispute
The dispute began with a comment made by President Trump on Italian television about an interaction at the G7 summit in France. Meloni publicly disputed the accuracy of his account and accused him of fabricating the story. Following that exchange, she addressed the matter in Rome, calling for a normalization of relations.
Official stance and outlook
- Meloni told reporters she will not continue to escalate the disagreement.
- She said Italy's foreign policy will not be altered as a result of the incident.
- She stated she does not expect the dispute to harm the Italian economy.
Contextual note
The leaders had been considered close allies prior to the public falling out. Beyond the immediate exchanges, Meloni's public comments focused on de-escalation and continuity in foreign policy, while also signaling confidence that economic relations will not be negatively affected.