Trump ally skips UNGA for first time months after face-to-face with president gave way to bitter clash

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is not attending the United Nations General Assembly this week, an official confirmed to Fox News Digital.Meloni’s decision not to attend breaks with a roughly 15-year stretch in which an Italian prime minister took part in the U.N.General Assembly’s annual high-level debate, according to Associated Medias, although the 2020 gathering was held largely virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meloni said she will not attend the UNGA, citing a packed schedule after attending six summits in three and a half weeks and saying she had "several dossiers" to handle at home.Meloni’s absence also means the two leaders will avoid another face-to-face encounter after recent international summits put their growing tensions on public display, despite a previously warm relationship.WORLD LEADERS DESCEND ON NEW YORK FOR UNGA — BUT WHO REALLY HAS AMERICA’S EAR?President Donald Trump meets with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Washington.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon) "We believe the United Nations the basic instrument for achieving peace everywhere.

Indeed we want a stronger role United Nations, we are present at many initiatives and we have an Italian candidate at the helm of the FAO", Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said ahead of the summit, according to Italian outlet ANSA."There is great attention from the Italian side."Their spat escalated in June after Trump said Meloni had "begged" him to take a photo at the G7, months after tensions first surfaced publicly when Meloni opposed U.S.

military action against Iran and called Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV "unacceptable."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.In July, Meloni and Trump feuded in the lead up to the NATO summit in Turkey after Trump po...