Tensions persist between Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni at NATO summit

During the NATO summit in Ankara held in July 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni displayed visible friction. Observers noted an awkward moment during the group photo where Meloni appeared to avoid eye contact with Trump. This followed a series of public disputes, including Trump's social media post on Truth Social calling for 'restrictive measures' alongside an edited photo of the pair. The conflict largely stems from Meloni’s refusal to support an American-Israeli military operation against Iran, a decision Trump criticized as a mistake. Previously, Trump claimed Meloni had begged him for a joint photo at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains and questioned her domestic popularity. However, during the Ankara summit, Trump described Meloni as a good person whom he likes, while simultaneously expressing disappointment in her political stance. Rome has chosen not to formally comment on the President's remarks. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has emphasized the importance of maintaining transatlantic relations despite these high-level disagreements.