Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni's relationship with Donald Trump appears strained. Trump criticized Meloni for not supporting his stance on Iran and for calling his attack on Pope Leo XIV “unacceptable.” Meloni hasn't directly responded, but experts suggest this may benefit her politically.
Florida doctor faces manslaughter charge for allegedly removing wrong organ during surgeryRepublicans are moving to fund Homeland Security 'the hard way' after end of talksBam Adebayo injured after LaMelo Ball trips him. Heat coach says Ball should have been ejectedFBI says suspects tried to rob Offset outside a Florida casino when he was shot in the legWalmart unveils new packaging for its Great Value store brand to reflect changing shopping habitsViral phenomenon in Argentina has young people identifying themselves as animalsPlastic garden gear can add microplastics to the soil. Here are some alternativesInspired by Picasso, an AP photographer visualizes a blind person ‘seeing’ artHosting solar can be a lifeline for farmers. But overcoming local opposition is toughWhy many Americans are turning to AI for health advice, according to recent pollsHumanoid robots show off their language and boxing skills in Hong KongRaffle winner thrilled to claim a $1 million Picasso with a $117 ticketPope Leo XIV in Algeria walks in footsteps of his spiritual father, St. AugustineFamilias estadounidenses impugnan ley italiana que limita ciudadanía por ascendenciaLIVE Florida doctor faces manslaughter charge for allegedly removing wrong organ during surgeryRepublicans are moving to fund Homeland Security 'the hard way' after end of talksBam Adebayo injured after LaMelo Ball trips him. Heat coach says Ball should have been ejectedFBI says suspects tried to rob Offset outside a Florida casino when he was shot in the legWalmart unveils new packaging for its Great Value store brand to reflect changing shopping habitsViral phenomenon in Argentina has young people identifying themselves as animalsPlastic garden gear can add microplastics to the soil. Here are some alternativesInspired by Picasso, an AP photographer visualizes a blind person ‘seeing’ artHosting solar can be a lifeline for farmers. But overcoming local opposition is toughWhy many Americans are turning to AI for health advice, according to recent pollsHumanoid robots show off their language and boxing skills in Hong KongRaffle winner thrilled to claim a $1 million Picasso with a $117 ticketPope Leo XIV in Algeria walks in footsteps of his spiritual father, St. AugustineFamilias estadounidenses impugnan ley italiana que limita ciudadanía por ascendencia
World NewsFILE -President Donald Trump greets Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during summit to support ending the more than two-year Israel-Hamas war in Gaza after a breakthrough ceasefire deal, Oct. 13, 2025, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Akos Szilagyi, one of Viktor Orban’s most prominent supporters, adjusts one of his self-designed T-shirts, featuring Orban and U.S. President Donald Trump, at his home in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. FILE -President Donald Trump greets Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during summit to support ending the more than two-year Israel-Hamas war in Gaza after a breakthrough ceasefire deal, Oct. 13, 2025, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. FILE -President Donald Trump greets Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during summit to support ending the more than two-year Israel-Hamas war in Gaza after a breakthrough ceasefire deal, Oct. 13, 2025, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Akos Szilagyi, one of Viktor Orban’s most prominent supporters, adjusts one of his self-designed T-shirts, featuring Orban and U.S. President Donald Trump, at his home in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Akos Szilagyi, one of Viktor Orban’s most prominent supporters, adjusts one of his self-designed T-shirts, featuring Orban and U.S. President Donald Trump, at his home in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
After chastising Pope Leo XIV, Trump turned his ire on Meloni, long one of his closest European allies, for calling his papal broadside “unacceptable” and not backing the U.S.-Israel war on Iran. “I thought she had courage,’’ Trump said in an interview with leading Italian daily Corriere della Sera. “I was wrong.” Meloni has not directly responded to Trump’s attacks. But they may be to her advantage as she recovers from a“I actually think this is a godsend for her,’’ said Nathalie Tocci, a professor at Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe and the director of the International Affairs Institute. “Trump has become completely toxic across Europe, across much of the world, including Italy.” Trump doubled down on Wednesday, saying their bond had frayed. “She’s been negative,” Trump told Fox News. “Anybody that turned us down to helping with this Iran situation, we do not have the same relationship.”
The only European Union leader invited to Trump’s second inauguration, Meloni was expected to leverage her strong ties with him once he returned to office 15 months ago. The two had a perceived natural alliance, with nationalistic tendencies and similarly But Italy was not spared the pain of Trump’s tariffs, and some may argue she has gotten little out of the relationship. When asked if they had spoken this month, Trump told Corriere, “No, not in a long time.’', the distance grew over the Iran war. Meloni has stated Italy will not participate in the war and the country last month refused U.S. bombers the authorization to land at a pivotal air base in Sicily. Meloni’s statement this week calling Trump’s attack on the pope “unacceptable” was the most direct criticism of the president yet. “It’s been building up over time, not so much because she is moving away from him but because he has become increasingly unhinged,’’ Tocci said.
Cabinet minister Adolfo Urso, a member of Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy, said U.S.-Italy relations would not be shaken by the flap. “Italy and the United States are allied countries and maintain their relationship and alliance within international institutions, starting obviously with the Atlantic Alliance,’’ he told Radio 24, adding that the church’s moral teachings “cannot crack relationships consecrated in alliances signed a few decades ago.” Mariangela Zappia, president of the ISPI think tank and a former Italian ambassador to the U.S., said Trump’s “hot-blooded” reaction could be attributed to his frustration with Europe, not just Italy. Besides not getting support for the Iran war, Trump lost a strong ally withStill, she said Trump’s personal outburst aimed at Meloni should not be construed as damaging the alliance as a whole. “Europe absolutely considers the United States its historic ally, but in some way wants to be involved in the decisions that are taken,’’ Zappia said. Trump, on the other hand, is realizing “this European Union is not easy to dismantle,” she said. “We are different, we react differently. Some are clearly anti-Trump, some are pro-Trump but in the end, destroying the European project, separating us on the things on which we see as our future, that is very difficult.’’
Meloni has sought to shore up support after the referendum loss, which became a de facto confidence test of her leadership. She made a two-day whirlwind solo tour of three Gulf states to shore up Italy’s gas and oil supply from the region during a growing energy crisis but returned home without any formal deals. On Tuesday, she announced Italy would not automatically renew a defense agreement with Israel, after warning shots hit an Italian convoy that is part of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, a move that analysts say is driven more by domestic politics than a strategic shift. “The Gulf tour was a way to show public opinion that she was being proactive. The fact it didn’t actually lead to anything is beside the point,’’ Tocci said. The Israel move “substantively is rather meaningless because there is not much in this agreement but symbolically it helps because Israel has become just so unpopular in Italian public opinion.” No matter what damage control she has done after the referendum loss, Roberto D’Alimonte, a professor at the LUISS school of government, predicts a difficult last year and a half of her mandate before elections due in 2027, largely due to the economic impact of the Iran war. “People want to see their gas bills go down, not just see Meloni talk about gas. What matters are the bills you get every month,’’ he said.Barry covers all things Italy for The Associated Press. Her focus includes fashion and design, overtourism and the environment, politics and sometimes the Vatican.
Donald Trump Giorgia Meloni Italy Pope Leo XIV War And Unrest Italy Government General News International News Washington News Nathalie Tocci Adolfo Urso Israel Government Politics European Union Referendums World News Iran Viktor Orban Energy Industry Roberto Dalimonte World News Washington News
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Melania Trump's Reported Absence At Big Trump Family Event Raises EyebrowsRon Dicker is a general assignment reporter at HuffPost. He has covered sports, entertainment and many other beats in his journalism career, and has lived in New York City for more than 20 years.
Read more »
Meloni voices support for pope in Trump feud: ‘Unacceptable’In her first direct rebuke of Trump since he retook office, Meloni denounced Trump's comments criticizing the pope.
Read more »
Italy vows to defend national interests after Trump criticises MeloniUS President Trump had said he was 'shocked' by Italy PM Meloni’s positions, claiming she was 'not helping' the US on NATO-related issues and discussions surrounding Iran.
Read more »
Donald Trump's pope feud spurs rift with a top European allyTrump responded to Italian Prime Minister Meloni describing his comments about Pope Leo XIV as “unacceptable.“
Read more »
Trump blasts close ally Meloni, says she’s failing US on IranFox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Read more »
Italy PM Meloni describes Trump's comments on Pope Leo XIV as 'unacceptable'Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday described U.S. President Donald Trump's comments towards Pope Leo XIV as 'unacceptable'.
Read more »