INTERNATIONAL DESK — US President Donald Trump has reignited his public feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, taking a fresh swipe at her on social media just days before the two leaders are scheduled to cross paths at a crucial NATO summit in Turkey.
The latest provocation came on Sunday, when Trump posted a photograph of Meloni looking toward him on his platform, Truth Social.
In a caption that immediately sparked widespread media attention, Trump wrote, “Restraining order needed.”
The move escalates a brewing diplomatic cold war between the former political allies, forcing Rome to balance domestic political anger with the necessity of maintaining its most vital transatlantic alliance.
A Rapidly Deteriorating Alliance
The friction between the two heads of state has been building for months. Last month, during an interview with an Italian television network, Trump claimed that Meloni had virtually “begged” to take a photograph with him during the G7 Summit held in France.
The Italian Prime Minister swiftly and publicly rejected the assertion, firing back that the US President had completely fabricated the narrative.
This public bickering marks a sharp departure from their previous relationship. Meloni was once widely regarded as one of Trump’s closest ideological allies in Europe.
In fact, she was the sole European leader to personally attend Trump’s second presidential inauguration in 2025.
However, the relationship soured dramatically earlier this year. Meloni publicly criticized Trump’s geopolitical stance on Iran following comments made by Pope Leo, prompting a furious counterattack from Trump, who publicly accused the Italian Prime Minister of “lacking courage.”
Rome Urges Calm Amid Opposition Outrage
While Prime Minister Meloni has so far refrained from issuing a public statement regarding Sunday’s Truth Social post, her administration is actively working to minimize the diplomatic fallout.
Speaking to Sky TV, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto declined to comment directly on Trump’s online antics, choosing instead to emphasize the foundational strength of the US-Italy partnership. Crosetto noted that the United States remains Italy’s most important global ally, adding:
“Individual leaders may change, but the mutual relationship between states is enduring, and that is what must take ultimate priority.”
In contrast, Italy’s political opposition has reacted with fury. Carlo Calenda, leader of the centrist opposition party Azione, took to social media platform X to launch a scathing attack on the US President, branding Trump a “vile and cheap bully.”
The Road to the NATO Summit
The escalating war of words puts both leaders under an intense spotlight ahead of this week’s NATO summit in Turkey. With critical discussions regarding collective Western defense on the table, observers will be watching closely to see how the palpable personal animosity between Trump and Meloni impacts broader diplomatic negotiations on the summit floor.