A tense diplomatic rift has emerged between Washington and Rome after US President Donald Trump reiterated an ongoing dispute with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Emphasising his previous remarks concerning a photo-op, Trump once again claimed on Saturday (IST) that Meloni repeatedly asked him for a picture during the recent G7 summit in France.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “Italian Prime Minister Gigiorgia Meloni asked, over and over, for a picture with me during the G-7 meeting in France. 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 (But so did NATO, for that matter!),” he wrote.

“She wouldn’t even let us use Italy’s landing strips or runways, a great logistical inconvenience, and this despite the fact the U.S. contributes hundreds of Billions of Dollars a year to protect Italy, and other “so-called” NATO Allies. 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.