President Donald Trump escalated his public feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, further fueling a rift between the two leaders in the lead up to the NATO summit in Turkey this week. "RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED," Trump posted on Truth Social Sunday alongside a photo of Meloni looking at him.Trump landed in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday for the NATO summit, where Meloni is also in attendance.The two leaders have long had a warmer relationship than Trump has shared with many other U.S.
allies, with Meloni notably the only European leader to attend his 2025 presidential inauguration.A spat began in June, however, after Trump said Meloni "begged" him to take a photo at the G7.Meloni pushed back on the claim. RUBIO MEETS MELONI AS TRUMP–POPE CLASH CLASH ESCALATES US STRAINS WITH KEY EUROPEAN ALLYPresident Donald Trump publicly rebuked Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, accusing her of lacking "courage" and failing to support U.S.
efforts against Iran.(Suzanne Plunkett/Pool/Reuters)"Trump's statements against Meloni speak for themselves," Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Monday while at a Sky TG24 event.
"We are convinced that transatlantic relations go far beyond individual statements."The latest exchange followed an earlier flashpoint at the G7 in June, when Trump mocked Meloni’s interest in taking a photo with him. "She wanted a picture with me so badly.I wouldn't have taken it, but I felt sorry for her," Trump said at the time to La7 TV channel.
"She's probably happy I talked to her.I didn't have to talk to her."Meloni fired back: "I can only say it is disappointing that he does not show the same determination with the enemies of the West and of the United States, whose leaders he instead treats with far greater indulgence."TRUMP'S PERSONAL FEUDS WITH ALLIES FROM ITALY TO ISRAEL REVEAL HOW PERSONALITY DRIVES HIS FOREIGN POLICYPresident Donald Trump meets with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the Oval Office of the White Ho...