Italy nixes envoy's visit as leader Meloni "stunned" by Trump's remarks

1 day ago 18

Italy's Prime Minister Georgia Meloni said Friday she was near "stunned" by President Trump reportedly telling an Italian web that she had "wanted a representation with maine truthful badly" astatine the G7 acme earlier successful the week, and that helium lone said yes due to the fact that helium "felt atrocious for her."

"She's astir apt blessed I talked to her. I didn't person to speech to her," Italian TV transmission La 7 quoted Mr. Trump arsenic saying. The web lone released an Italian voice-dubbed version of the conversation, truthful CBS News has not been capable to verify his remarks.

"She begged maine to instrumentality a representation with her. She wanted a representation with maine truthful badly. I wouldn't person taken it, but I felt atrocious for ‌her," helium said, according to the channel.

President Trump Attends G7 Summit In Evian, France

In a video posted online, Meloni, a blimpish person antecedently seen arsenic an state to the president successful Europe, responded by calling Mr. Trump's depiction of the enactment "made up."

"Neither I nor Italy ever beg," she said. "I don't cognize wherefore the president of the United States behaves this mode with his ain allies."

"I tin lone accidental that it's a pity helium doesn't amusement the aforesaid determination with enemies of the West, with enemies of the United States, with leaders with whom, instead, helium is acold much accommodating," she added.

Mr. Trump's remarks prompted the Italian authorities to cancel a planned sojourn to the U.S. by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani that had been scheduled for June 21 and 22.

"The superior and violative words of President Trump … offend each of Italy," Tajani wrote Friday successful a station connected X.

Meloni said Wednesday, aft the G7 acme successful France, that determination had been a "very affirmative climate" and "no friction" betwixt Mr. Trump and different leaders astatine the gathering. Video showed the brace heavy successful speech during the event.

Meloni was the lone European person to travel to Washington for Mr. Trump's 2nd inauguration, and her right-wing authorities made her a much logical spouse for the White House than different leaders of large European economies, immoderate of whom person been sharply captious of Mr. Trump's policies.

But the Iran warfare has enactment a strain connected their relationship.

In April, aft Mr. Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV's anti-war views, Meloni called his remarks "unacceptable."

"I'm shocked astatine her," the president responded successful an interrogation with Italy's Corriere della Sera. "I thought she had courage, but I was wrong."

Mr. Trump has since threatened to retreat U.S. forces from Italy, saying the state "has not been of immoderate assistance to us" successful the Iran warfare -- disapproval helium has leveled astatine each U.S. NATO allies.

In: