Trump deepens the dustup with Italy’s Meloni, who says his ‘unprovoked attacks are senseless’ (AP)
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni fired back at US President Donald Trump after he suggested she was attempting to boost her domestic political standing by mending ties with Washington, telling the American leader to focus on his own popularity instead. Terming his attacks as “unprovoked and senseless”, she said that her popularity depended on her “ability to defend Italy’s national interest””President Trump, these constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless. As for my popularity, being your friend certainly has not helped it, nor does it depend on my relationship with you. My popularity depends on my ability to defend Italy’s national interest, and that is exactly what I have always done,” she said.”That is also what I did regarding the American military bases in Italy. Their use is governed by agreements that we have always respected, and that cannot be violated as long as I am Prime Minister. Italy remains a sovereign nation. In any case, my popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours,” she said, reacting to Trump’s claim that Italy did not let US use its landing strips. Trump, after returning from G7, has repeatedly claimed that Meloni “begged” for a selfie with him, a claim Italian PM has dismissed. Repeating the claim on Saturday, Trump said “Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked, over and over, for a picture with me during the G-7 meeting in France. She is doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity, possibly because she turned down the United States of America, a Country that truly loves and protects Italy, when it came to denying Iran from obtaining or developing a nuclear weapon (But so did Nato, for that matter!)””She wouldn’t even let us use Italy’s landing strips or runways, a great logistical inconvenience, and this despite the fact the US contributes hundreds of billions of dollars a year to protect Italy, and other ‘so-called’ Nato allies. Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her ‘numbers up’,” he added.Meloni’s government, which came to power in 2022, has recently seen its approval ratings recover to around 35% after a gradual decline during 2025, while her Brothers of Italy party continues to lead opinion polls with about 28% support. In contrast, Trump, who was sworn in as US president in January 2025, recorded a modest one-point increase in his approval rating to 36% in a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, though it remains close to the lowest levels of his political career despite easing public concerns over the cost of living.
