Trump turns on Italy’s Meloni, says he is ‘shocked’ by her
Former President Trump delivers a blunt public rebuke to one of his closest European allies, Giorgia Meloni.
In a significant diplomatic rupture, former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly turned on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, one of his staunchest European allies. In an interview with Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper, Trump stated he was 'shocked' by Meloni and declared, 'I thought she had courage. I was wrong.' This blunt rebuke represents a dramatic reversal from their previously close political relationship, which was highlighted by Meloni being the sole European leader to attend Trump's 2025 presidential inauguration.
The fallout stems from two key policy disagreements. First, Prime Minister Meloni has openly criticized Trump's decision to go to war with Iran. Second, and more immediately, she denounced Trump's recent weekend criticism of Pope Leo as 'unacceptable.' Trump's interview specifically cited Meloni's refusal to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil chokepoint blockaded by Iran, as a point of contention. The White House and Meloni's office have both declined to comment on the published quotes, leaving the future of this key transatlantic political alliance in question.
- Trump told Italy's Corriere della Sera he was 'shocked' by PM Giorgia Meloni's lack of 'courage'.
- The rift follows Meloni criticizing Trump's Iran war decision and his 'unacceptable' comments about Pope Leo.
- Meloni was Trump's closest EU ally, being the only European leader to attend his 2025 inauguration.
Why It Matters
This public rift destabilizes a key political alliance between a major European power and a leading U.S. political figure, impacting transatlantic relations.