“Worse Than an Ex”: Meloni Hits Back at Trump’s ‘Petty’ Instagram Snub

The honeymoon period between U.S. President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, once dubbed a “right-wing alliance,” has come to an end.

Following a series of diplomatic tensions, the conflict escalated sharply after remarks made by President Trump on June 18, shortly after the G7 summit.

On June 17, the Italian Prime Minister’s office released a photo of President Trump and Prime Minister Meloni smiling and talking at the summit venue. However, in an interview with an Italian broadcaster on June 18 (local time), President Trump claimed that “Prime Minister Meloni begged to take a photo with me.”

Furious, Prime Minister Meloni posted a rebuttal video on her Instagram the following day, calling the claim “a completely fabricated lie.”

When President Trump doubled down on his claim, stating, “Now that the U.S. has militarily defeated Iran, Prime Minister Meloni is trying to act friendly again, but I will decline,” Meloni hit back again on Instagram. She fired back, saying, “Being friends with you did nothing for my approval ratings,” and added, “My popularity is none of your business, so you should worry about your own.”

Analysts suggest that the fallout between the two leaders is the result of diplomatic tensions that had been building up during the war in Iran.

The relationship deteriorated beyond repair after Italy, concerned about the economic impact of the war, denied the use of U.S. military bases in Sicily, and Prime Minister Meloni, a practicing Catholic, strongly objected to President Trump’s harsh criticism of the Pope.

Following this incident, the Italian Foreign Minister abruptly canceled a scheduled visit to the United States.

However, foreign media outlets suggest that this could actually be an opportunity for Prime Minister Meloni to consolidate her support base, as public opinion against President Trump is worsening even within right-wing circles in Europe.

According to the Financial Times, Giovanni Orsina, a professor of political science at Luiss University in Rome, assessed that “this situation has become an unexpected boon for Prime Minister Meloni.”

Reported by Lee Hyeon-yeong | Video by Ryu Ji-soo | Graphics by Lee Soo-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.