As both leaders prepare to attend a NATO meeting scheduled to take place in Turkey this week, Trump has reignited the controversy by posting a photo of Meloni on his Truth Social platform. He accompanied the post with remarks suggesting that a decision should be made to restrict her from approaching him, further escalating the dispute ahead of the international summit.
The Italian Prime Minister has not publicly commented on the matter. However, Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said there was nothing unusual to say about Trump’s remarks, stressing that the priority is to maintain strong relations with a key ally such as the United States.
Meloni was previously one of Trump’s strongest supporters and was the only European leader to attend his inauguration in 2025. However, last year she began to distance herself from him after Trump criticized Pope Leo XIII over statements condemning the war in Iran.
Despite this shift, Meloni had initially maintained a close relationship with Trump, often aligning with his political positions. The recent developments, however, suggest growing tensions between the two leaders ahead of key international engagements such as the upcoming NATO summit.
