US President Donald Trump has reignited his public dispute with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by posting an edited image on Truth Social suggesting that the Italian leader was infatuated with him. The 80-year-old president shared the altered photograph alongside a caption claiming he required a restraining order against Meloni.
The edited image depicted the 49-year-old Italian prime minister looking up at Trump with a smile, creating the impression that the right-wing leader admired him.
"Restraining order needed," Trump wrote in the caption. The image formed part of a series of posts Trump shared on Truth Social on Sunday, including a manipulated photograph showing former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama waving before boarding an Air Force One that had been covered in graffiti.
Trump's latest social media post appeared just days before the NATO summit in Turkey, where he and Meloni are expected to attend meetings alongside other leaders of the military alliance.
The Trump-Meloni Feud
Tensions between the two leaders escalated last week after Trump alleged that Meloni repeatedly requested to be photographed with him during the recent Group of Seven summit, suggesting that she had persistently sought the opportunity. He also criticised Europe over its handling of energy and immigration, arguing that Europeans had made the wrong decisions on both issues and warning that the continent would fundamentally change if those challenges remained unresolved.
The remarks prompted Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to cancel a planned visit to Washington. Meloni, meanwhile, dismissed Trump's version of events, calling it "completely fabricated," and declaring, "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 have further cooled after Italy showed reluctance to support the United States' efforts against Iran.
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