Key facts
- Donald Trump posted a photo with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Truth Social with the caption 'Needs a restraining order'.
- The post occurred just before the NATO summit in Ankara, where both leaders are expected to attend.
- The Italian government plans to ignore the personal attack.
- Relations between the US and Italy have been cooling since spring 2026.
- Trump previously alleged Meloni 'begged' for a photo at the G7, a claim she denied.
- Trump also criticized NATO as a 'one-way relationship' for the United States.
US President Donald Trump escalated tensions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by posting a photo of them on Truth Social with the caption, 'Needs a restraining order.' The post appeared on July 5, just hours before the NATO summit in Ankara, which both leaders are scheduled to attend.
According to Italian media reports, the Italian government does not plan to formally respond to the 'provocation,' viewing it as a personal attack lacking context. Prime Minister Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reportedly discussed a strategy of ignoring the post.
Several Italian political leaders voiced support for Meloni. Carlo Calenda, leader of Azione, called Trump a 'despicable two-bit bully' and offered full solidarity to the prime minister.
The incident deepens a growing rift between the US administration and the Italian government, with relations cooling since spring 2026. Differences have emerged over the handling of crises in the Middle East and Iran, Trump's criticisms of Pope Leo XIV, and Italy's perceived distance from certain US requests within NATO.
A previous flashpoint occurred on June 19, when Trump claimed Meloni had 'begged him to take a photo together' at the G7, stating he agreed out of 'pity.' Meloni refuted these claims, calling them 'totally invented' and asserting that neither she nor Italy begs.
Trump has also recently criticized NATO as a whole, describing the relationship with the United States as a 'one-way relationship' and arguing that allies have not reciprocated US support. He presented a chart showing military spending from 2014 to the present, highlighting the US contribution as significantly higher than that of the UK, France, Italy, and Poland.