Trump and Meloni mend ties at G7 amid Iran war dispute

U.S. President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. The encounter aimed to mend relations strained by recent public disagreements, particularly concerning the war in Iran and criticism directed at Pope Leo XIV. European Council President António Costa was overheard joking about their reconciliation, with Meloni responding, 'We have always been friends,' and Trump quipping, 'I was abandoned.'

The dispute had intensified after Trump's critical remarks about Meloni and her defense of the Pope's stance on the Iran war. The economic consequences of the US-Israeli conflict in Iran, which led to increased energy prices across Europe and significantly impacted Italy, had raised the domestic political cost for Meloni's alignment with Trump. Furthermore, ongoing Israeli operations in southern Lebanon, tacitly supported by Washington, had become increasingly unpopular with Italian voters, prompting Rome to adjust its tone toward the Israeli government ahead of national elections.

Tensions peaked when Italy denied US aircraft access to its Sigonella air base in Sicily. This G7 meeting marked the first in-person opportunity for Meloni and Trump to address these issues directly since their public spats began. Rome is reportedly considering increased purchases of US liquefied natural gas (LNG) and participation in a multinational mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz, while also seeking enhanced American support for Ukraine.