Meloni Asked Over And Over, For A Picture With Me: Trump's Fresh Claim On Truth Social

New Delhi: Donald Trump doubled down Saturday on his claim that Italian PM Giorgia Meloni begged him for a selfie at the G7 summit in France. He said she asked him over and over. Trump is apparently upset that European allies gave him the cold shoulder during the Iran war. He blamed Meloni for refusing to let the US use Italy's landing strips and runways. He said this caused real problems for American military operations.

What he posted on Truth Social?

He posted on Truth Social: "Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked, over and over, for a picture with me during the G-7 meeting in France. She is doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity, possibly because she turned down the United States of America, a Country that truly loves and protects Italy, when it came to denying Iran from obtaining or developing a Nuclear Weapon."
Trump said her popularity tanked after she refused him. He added that now she wants to be friends again to fix her numbers.
"She wouldn't even let us use Italy's landing strips or runways, a great logistical inconvenience," Trump wrote. "The U.S. contributes hundreds of Billions of Dollars a year to protect Italy."

How Melony hit back?

Meloni hit back Friday. She rejected the whole story as made up.
"There is one thing he should remember," she said. "Neither I nor Italy ever beg."
The clash is a big shift. The two were once close allies. Meloni was the only European leader at Trump's inauguration in 2025. But things soured recently. Trump attacked Pope Leo over his criticism of the Iran conflict. Meloni criticized Trump for it. Trump then accused her of lacking courage.