US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that his relationship with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had "soured a little" after she declined to
support Washington during its conflict with Iran, while insisting he still liked her personally. Speaking to reporters in Türkiye, where he is attending the NATO summit, Trump described Meloni as "a nice person" but criticised her government's stance during the Iran conflict. "She refused to get involved, so it soured my relationship with her a little bit. But I like her. I think she's a nice person, actually. But I think she made a mistake," Trump said. Rift Over Iran Conflict The diplomatic disagreement traces back to March, when Italy refused permission for US military aircraft bound for the Middle East to use the Sigonella air base in Sicily. Rome said Washington had failed to obtain prior authorisation before requesting access. The decision reportedly became a major point of contention between the two leaders, who had previously been regarded as close political allies. Relations Deteriorated Further Tensions escalated last month after Trump claimed in an interview with Italian broadcaster La7 that Meloni had "begged" him for a photograph during a G7 summit in France. Meloni publicly rejected the allegation, accusing the US president of inventing the story. She also criticised Trump earlier this year after he attacked Pope Leo following the pontiff's condemnation of the Iran war. Trump later criticised Meloni for refusing to support efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route that was effectively blockaded by Iran after joint US-Israeli strikes. Truth Social Post Sparks Fresh Controversy Trump's latest remarks came after he shared a Truth Social post over the weekend featuring a photograph of Meloni looking up at him with the caption: "RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED." The post reignited speculation about growing tensions between the two leaders ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, where they are expected to hold talks. Italy Declines to Escalate Dispute The Italian government has so far avoided responding directly to Trump's latest criticism. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Rome had decided not to engage publicly with the US president's provocative remarks. "Trump speaks for himself. We have a US president who loves to provoke, especially on social media. We have decided to stop responding to these remarks," Tajani told Italian newspaper La Stampa. Meloni's office also declined to comment on how she would approach her meeting with Trump at the NATO summit. However, a source close to the Italian prime minister said she had no intention of snubbing the US president and would likely greet him "with a smile." The latest exchange highlights growing strains in what was once viewed as one of Trump's strongest relationships with a European leader, with disagreements over the Iran conflict now adding to broader transatlantic tensions.
