US President Donald Trump revealed on 7/7 that his relationship with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had soured, primarily due to her refusal to assist the US with the Strait of Hormuz issue. Speaking at the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump stated, "We had a bad relationship. It got a little worse since she refused to help us. She didn't want to get involved in the Strait of Hormuz issue".

The tension in their relationship began to surface after Italy's refusal to support US military operations in the Middle East. In March, the Italian government declined to permit US military aircraft to land at Sigonella airbase in Sicily for Middle East operations, citing Washington's failure to seek prior approval from Rome. Furthermore, Italy did not dispatch warships to join the operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, despite Trump's appeal.

President Trump also voiced his disappointment with European nations, including Italy, for their lack of support for the US in its conflict with Iran. He stated, "I like her, but I think she made a mistake. She didn't stand with us and I'm not happy about this". Throughout the conflict with Iran, Trump also criticized other European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who had also condemned the conflict.

Prime Minister Meloni (left) shakes hands with President Trump at the Gaza summit in Egypt on 13/10/2025. Photo: AP

Beyond policy disagreements, personal spats have also fueled the strained relationship. Their interactions grew tense from late June, following Trump's public assertion that Meloni had "begged" him for a photo opportunity at the G7 summit, to which he agreed because he "felt sorry for her". Meloni reacted angrily, refuting the claim and accusing Trump of "fabricating" the story. The war of words escalated this week when Trump posted an edited photo on his Truth Social account depicting Meloni gazing at him admiringly, captioned "Needs a restraining order".

Despite the ongoing tension, Trump adopted a more conciliatory tone regarding the Italian prime minister upon his arrival in Ankara on 7/7 for the NATO summit. During a joint press conference with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Trump remarked, "I actually think she's a nice person".

US President Donald Trump (left) talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the G7 summit in France on 17/6. Photo: Office of the Prime Minister of Italy

Meloni was previously known to have a strong relationship with Trump. Earlier this year, she voiced her hope that President Trump would resolve the Ukraine conflict, enabling her to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. The Italian prime minister sought to cultivate a close relationship with Trump, founded on their shared right-wing political ideologies. She was notably the only European leader to attend his inauguration ceremony in Washington in early 2025.

The Italian government has refrained from responding to Trump's criticisms, seemingly to avoid further escalating tensions and impacting bilateral relations. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated on 7/7, "Trump has expressed his views, and we have decided to cease responding to these statements".

US President Donald Trump speaks during a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on 7/7. Photo: AFP

Meloni's office declined to comment on how she would interact with Trump in Ankara. However, a source close to her dismissed the notion that the Italian prime minister would ignore him. The source indicated that Meloni is adept at handling such situations and might instead greet him "with a smile".

Hong Hanh (AFP, Reuters)