Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced the cancellation of his planned visit to the United States on June 21-22, after expressing his profound displeasure over US President Donald Trump’s “grave and offensive” comments about Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
“The grave and offensive words of President Trump towards Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy”, Tajani posted.
Additionally, PM Meloni herself has posted a video statement titled “Neither I nor Italy ever beg”
Io e l’Italia non imploriamo mai. pic.twitter.com/sTpKlqWB67
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) June 19, 2026
“Certain things deserve an immediate response. Donald Trump’s statements are completely made up; I am frankly stunned. I don’t know why the President of the United States behaves this way with his own allies, and it’s not the first time it’s happened. I can only say that it’s disappointing that he doesn’t show the same determination toward the enemies of the West, the enemies of the United States, with leaderships toward which he is instead much more accommodating. But one thing he should remember: I and Italy never beg.”
Trump had earlier stated to a media channel that Italian PM Meloni had “begged him for a photograph, and he had only agreed out of pity. He had earlier also stated that he is ‘shocked’ at Meloni’s refusal to support the US military action against Iran and had criticised Meloni for defending Pope Leo XIV.
“I’m shocked at her. I thought she had courage, but I was wrong,” and labelled her “unacceptable” for not backing Washington.
