Trump-Meloni spat over photo-op continues for the second day

Trump says Meloni was losing popularity in Italy. Meloni responds saying he should focus on his popularity.

By The Slate Bureau

New Delhi, June 20: US President Donald J. Trump on Saturday once again provoked Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by reiterating that she repeatedly asked for a picture with him during the G7 meeting as she was losing popularity in Italy. Meloni responded saying the unprovked attacks were senseless.

"My popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours," Meloni responded.

The spat between the two continued for the second day on Saturday.

Trump on Saturday reiterated his claim on Truth Social even as Meloni's sharp reaction on Friday snowballed into a diplomatic spat with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelling his planned visit to America in protest against the "serious" remarks against Meloni.

Alleging Meloni repeatedly sought a photo with him, Trump said now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her “numbers up”.

"No thanks!!!," Trump said, over being friends while indirectly playing down the decision by Italian foreign minister to cancel his scheduled visit to the US.

On the photo-op allegedly being sought by Meloni, Trump said, "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".

In a self-recorded video, Meloni on Friday called out Trump, saying, "Italy and I don't beg." She said: "Donald Trump's statements are completely fabricated. I am frankly stunned. I don't know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his own allies. After all, this isn't the first time this has happened."

According to La7, Trump said Meloni had "begged" him for a photo-op. He said he wasn't obliged to do it but felt sorry for her and agreed, La7 reported.

Now, he had written the same thing on his social media account.