In a notably more measured tone, former U.S. President Donald Trump spoke about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni just hours before their meeting on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Ankara. Responding to a journalist’s question, Trump described Meloni as a “good person” and said, “I love her very much.”
A Disagreement Over Iran Operation
However, he quickly added that, in his view, Meloni had “made a mistake”—specifically referencing Italy’s decision not to join the U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran. “She simply wasn’t there for us, and I didn’t like that,” Trump stated.
From Tension to Diplomatic Thaw?
These remarks come after a period of sharp public friction between the two leaders. Just days earlier, Trump posted an edited photo on Truth Social showing Meloni looking surprised, captioned in all caps: “RESTRICTIVE MEASURES REQUIRED.” He had also claimed she was “not doing well in Italy,” was “losing popularity,” and even alleged she had “begged” him for a photo together at the G7 summit.
Despite recent tensions, Meloni has long been regarded as one of Trump’s closest political allies in Europe. Ahead of the NATO summit, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto—who will accompany Meloni to Ankara—emphasized that preserving transatlantic ties remains a top priority, even amid current disagreements.
The Italian government has not yet commented on Trump’s latest statements or social media posts.