Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni looks on during a summit in Brussels, Belgium, June 18, 2026. REUTERS/Yves Herman
Mediaite reports Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hit President Donald Trump with a withering new Saturday rant attacking his waningpopularity in the latest “salvo of a roiling feud over a selfie.”
On Saturday afternoon, Italy time, Meloni posted a scathing Instagram message to Trump advising him to “focus” on his own popularity — or lack thereof, reported Mediaite.
Apparently stung by Meloni’s long-distance slap for claiming she “begged” him for a selfie, Trump took to Truth Social early Saturday, repeating his allegation that she did indeed plead for a pose.
“Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked, over and over, for a picture with me during the G-7 meeting in France,” said Trump, adding that “She is doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity, possibly because she turned down the United States of America, a Country that truly loves and protects Italy, when it came to denying Iran from obtaining or developing a Nuclear Weapon.”
Trump went on to complain that the PM “wouldn’t even let us use Italy’s landing strips or runways [to attack Iran], a great logistical inconvenience.”
“Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her ‘numbers up.’ No thanks!” he added.
But Meloni was apparently in no need of Trump’s finger-wagging and reminded him of his own collapsing poll numbers.
“President Trump, these constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless. As for my popularity, being your friend certainly has not helped it, nor does it depend on my relationship with you.”
Dispatch columnist Nick Catoggio argues, however, that Trump’s relationship with Meloni may indeed have put a strain on her polling back home after Trump’s unilateral attacks on Iran resulted in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and a dramatic increase in Italian fuel prices.
“The more right-wing politics becomes associated with fat orange clownery, the less European voters will want any part of it,” argued Catoggio.
But in her Instagram shout, Meloni claimed her popularity “depends on my ability to defend Italy’s national interest, and that is exactly what I have always done.”
“That is also what I did regarding the American military bases in Italy. Their use is governed by agreements that we have always respected, and that cannot be violated as long as I am Prime Minister,” she continued. “Italy remains a sovereign nation. In any case, my popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours.”