US President Donald Trump has escalated his public feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by sharing a controversial meme suggesting she is fixated on him.
The 80-year-old president posted an edited image of himself and Meloni on his Truth Social platform, joking that he needed a restraining order against the Italian leader.
In the edited image, the 49-year-old Italian prime minister was shown smiling and looking up at Trump, a depiction that appeared intended to suggest she admired or was infatuated with the US president.
Trump captioned the edited image, “Restraining order needed.”
The post was among several images he shared on Truth Social on Sunday, including a manipulated picture showing former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama waving before boarding an Air Force One aircraft that had been digitally altered with graffiti.
The social media post was shared ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Turkey, where Trump and Giorgia Meloni are expected to join other leaders of the military alliance.
The public spat between the two leaders intensified after Trump claimed last week that Giorgia Meloni repeatedly asked to take a photograph with him during the recent Group of Seven summit, suggesting she persistently sought the opportunity.
Trump also criticised European leaders, arguing they had mishandled both energy and immigration policies. He warned that unless those issues are addressed, Europe would “never be the same.”
Trump’s remarks drew a sharp response from the Italian government, with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelling a planned visit to Washington.
Giorgia Meloni also dismissed Trump’s claims as “completely fabricated,” insisting, “Italy and I never beg.”
“I am not anti-American today; I was not kneeling yesterday. I am a person who believes that the West is stronger united, who believes that Italy is stronger in a united West, and has worked and continues to work for this. After that, however, solid relationships are also based on frankness, and I am a frank person,” Meloni told Rete 4, Italian news agency Adnkronos reported.
Relations between the two conservative leaders reportedly became increasingly strained after Italy was perceived as hesitant to support the United States’ campaign against Iran.
