Key facts
- President Donald Trump insisted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni repeatedly asked for a photo at the G7 summit.
- Meloni denied Trump's claim, calling it fabricated and stating neither she nor Italy ever beg.
- Trump criticized Italy's alleged lack of support for US efforts to deny Iran nuclear weapons and its denial of US military aircraft use.
- Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelled a trip to the US amid the ongoing dispute.
- Meloni expressed astonishment at Trump's behavior towards allies.
President Donald Trump has intensified a public dispute with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, insisting she repeatedly sought a photo at the G7 summit and criticizing Italy's cooperation on Iran nuclear policy. Trump stated on his social media platform that Meloni asked "over and over" for a picture during the summit in France, a claim Meloni had previously denied as "completely fabricated."