Belgian Minister Tells Trump to Leave Italian PM Alone, Calls Meloni 'The Alpha'

Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken has cautioned U.S. President Donald Trump to stop his public criticism of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, referring to her as "the alpha" leader in Europe.

Francken's remarks came during an interview with Politico, where he also stressed Europe's continued reliance on the U.S. for continental defense, a dependency he estimates could last another decade. He advised European leaders to maintain the U.S. as an ally while cautioning Trump to exercise restraint. "Of course we need him as an ally, but don’t touch Meloni," Francken stated. "She’s the queen of center-right in Europe. She’s the alpha. Leave her alone."

The exchange follows Trump's recent resurgence of a public feud with Meloni. Over the weekend, Trump shared a photograph from a recent G7 summit, where Meloni appears to be looking up at him. The image was accompanied by superimposed text that read, "RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED."

This incident is part of a broader dispute. Last year, Trump described Meloni as a "beautiful young woman" before launching what appeared to be a personal attack in June, claiming Meloni had "begged" him for a photo at the G7 and that he only agreed out of pity. Meloni subsequently refuted his account on social media, calling his story "completely fabricated."

Francken's intervention also highlights the current geopolitical climate, with European nations increasing their defense spending due to Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and concerns about potential Russian aggression. He estimated that Europe is still "five to 10 years" away from achieving full self-sufficiency in continental defense, reinforcing the need to "keep Americans on board."

Francken characterized the feud with Meloni as an unproductive distraction, expressing his admiration for her conservative alignment and stating, "and then you’re going to have a fight on what? On a picture!"

Earlier, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled a planned trip to the U.S. in June, citing behavior from Trump that he described as "serious and offensive." At that time, Trump had also told NBC News that Meloni was a "big fan" of his but was "doing poorly in Italy."

Footage from their G7 interactions did not suggest Meloni was "begging" for a photo. In response to Trump's earlier claims, Meloni stated, "Italy and I do not beg," while Francken urged both sides to de-escalate, advising diplomacy and a gentle approach in dealings with the Americans.