Trump escalates feud with Italy, Meloni tries to shield US ties after Oval Office threats and NATO withdrawal hint

Spat origin: G7 photo, La7 call and Instagram denial

The fallout began at last week's G7 summit. Trump later told NBC that Meloni, once a supporter, had not backed Washington during the Hormuz crisis. In a phone call to the Italian programme 'L'Aria che tira' on La7, he claimed the premier 'begged' him for a photograph and 'made me feel pity'.

Meloni publicly denied the version of events as fabricated and hit back in an Instagram post. 'I called Trump's attacks senseless,' she wrote, adding that her ties with him had not helped her domestic ratings and that her popularity was 'none of his business'. She stated she would not comment further on the matter.

Trump widens the attack to NATO allies

But Trump did not stop. On Truth Social he wrote: 'After spending Trillions of Dollars on NATO, Italy, and its Prime Minister, wouldn't even think of becoming involved with the Islamic Republic of Iran and their very serious Nuclear Threat. For decades, we defend them but, when tested, they are not there to defend us, and the rest of the World. Not good!'

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office later, Trump went further. He named Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom among allies who had 'behaved very badly'. The US leader estimated America's NATO bill at 600 billion dollars a year, describing the sums as 'crazy'. He then issued an overt threat: 'We could also say NO to them. And we could do it.' In a separate interview with Tgcom24, Trump said he was 'disappointed not only with Italy, but with all the leaders of NATO' and that he did not know whether to withdraw from the Atlantic Alliance.

Meloni's de-escalation and domestic pressure

At a cabinet meeting on Monday, Meloni stressed that the rift must not affect the government's relations with the United States. She invited ministers to the US embassy reception for Independence Day on 2 July, noting that Ambassador Tilman J. Fertitta 'has always been extremely helpful and professional with us'. The premier also made a surprise appearance at an Alpini rally in Gemona del Friuli, telling the crowd she 'needed a bit of healthy national pride'.

Opposition leader Elly Schlein of the Democratic Party acknowledged the attacks were unacceptable but demanded action. 'We ask the government to move from tweets to action, for example by leaving the Board of Peace, where it should never have entered because it is not working for peace,' she said at a party event in Rome. In a separate move, Meloni thanked British PM Keir Starmer for 'concrete collaboration on migration, defence and energy'.

Italy behaved very badly. We spent billions of dollars for NATO. When we ask for help on small things they say no – we could say no to them as well, and we could do it.

We have strongly condemned Trump's unacceptable attacks. But we ask the government to move from tweets to action, for example by leaving the Board of Peace.

Chronology of the crisis