Former President Donald Trump reignited a dispute with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Sunday, posting criticisms of her leadership and her country's actions on social media.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed Meloni was performing poorly in Italy and suggested her popularity was declining because she had not supported the United States in preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. He alleged that Italy denied the U.S. access to its runways, causing significant logistical inconvenience. Trump stated that the U.S. contributes substantial financial aid to protect Italy and other NATO allies.
Trump further asserted that after the U.S. militarily defeated Iran, Meloni sought renewed friendship to improve her public standing. He concluded the post with "No thanks!!!"
Recent polling data indicates that a majority of Italians hold negative views of Trump and are concerned about the conflict between the U.S. and Iran. Meloni responded to Trump's remarks in a video shared on X in June, calling his comments "completely fabricated" and expressing her "stunned" reaction to his behavior.