Italy’s Meloni fires back after Trump says she ‘begged’ him for a photo – POLITICO

The spat between Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni escalated dramatically Friday, after the U.S. president said the Italian prime minister “begged” him for a photo at the G7 summit earlier this week.

During a phone call with Italian media on Thursday night, Trump said Meloni was “probably happy I spoke to her. I didn’t have to,” adding that “she wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her.” The remarks appeared to contradict the prime minister’s recent insistence that her relationship with the president was as good as ever.

Meloni called Trump’s statement “completely made-up” in a combative video on social media, saying “Italy and I never beg.” She added that she was “stunned” by the president’s remarks, and that “even though this is not happening for the first time … it’s a pity that [Trump] does not show the same determination against the enemies of the West.”