‘My popularity not your concern’, Meloni snaps as Trump reiterates selfie claim

On Friday, a livid Meloni had hit out at the American President for making claims that she “begged” him to take a selfie with her at the G7 summit and that he obliged because he felt sorry for her.

In her response, Meloni called Trump’s claims false, and that neither she nor Italy ever begs.

‘She is doing poorly in Italy’, claims Trump

The angry exchanges did not end at that, with Trump levelling fresh swipes on Saturday and Meloni delivering a quick rebuttal.

“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!),” Trump posted on Truth Social.

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He also criticised Meloni for backing Iran and not the US, an ally of Italy, in the Middle East conflict, nor allowing America to use Italy’s landing strips.

“She wouldn’t even let us use Italy’s landing strips or runways, a great logistical inconvenience, and this despite the fact the US contributes hundreds of Billions of Dollars a year to protect Italy, and other ‘so called’ NATI Allies,” Trump’s post said.

Trump further claimed that Meloni now “wants to be friends again” to get her numbers up after “the United States defeated Iran militarily.”

Focus on your popularity: Meloni tells Trump

In a quick and tart response to Trump’s post, Meloni, in a post on Instagram, said such “unprovoked attacks” against her are “senseless,” and Trump should worry about his own popularity rather than hers.

“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. My popularity depends on my ability to defend Italy’s national interest, and that is exactly what I have always done,” the Italian prime minister posted on Instagram, tagging a picture of Trump’s social media post.

Responding to Trump’s attacks on the use of Italian military bases, she said that she took a call on their use based on agreements that cannot be violated as long as she is prime minister.

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“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. Italy remains a sovereign nation. In any case, my popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours,” she posted.

How it started?

The Trump-Meloni face-off, which has left the world baffled and amused at the same time, deviates from the decorum that world leaders follow on the global stage.

Trump started it when, in an interview with an Italian media outlet claimed that Meloni begged him for a photo at the G7 Summit and he obliged because he felt sorry for her.

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Meloni hit back in a video rejoinder, accusing Trump of fabricating the whole episode.

"Donald Trump's statements are completely made up, I'm frankly appalled. I don't know why the President of the US behaves this way with his own allies; after all, it's not the first time it's happened. I can only say it's a shame that he doesn't show the same determination with the enemies of the West, with the enemies of the US, with leaderships toward which he instead proves much more accommodating,” she said in the video.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonia Tajani also cancelled his scheduled trip to Miami in protest against Trump’s comments against Meloni.