President Donald Trump has long viewed the European Union as an obsolete institution that undermines national sovereignty through excessive bureaucracy. But Trump’s recent outburst toward Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, claiming she “begged for a picture” and that he “felt sorry for her,” presents a far more direct attack. The consequences for the trans-Atlantic friendship may be severe.Meloni has long invested in her relationship with America’s MAGA movement, courting personalities such as Steve Bannon when he was senior counsel to the president during Trump’s first term. She did this to elevate both her own status and that of her party when it was still relatively unknown. Over the years, Trump has shown support for Meloni’s stances on issues such as migration, traditional family values, and national sovereignty, reflecting a strong ideological affinity between the two.
That affection ended last week after the two leaders met in France for this year’s Group of Seven talks. During an unexpected interview with Italian television, Trump expressed regret for what he viewed as Meloni’s attempt to boost her ratings through a photo-op with him. This led Meloni to deny his story strongly and say, “Italy and I never beg.”
