Another diplomatic rift between Trump and Meloni: Trump claims Meloni ‘begged’ him for a photo, while Meloni denies

Italian Prime ​Minister Giorgia Meloni accused her one-time close ally Donald Trump of fabricating a story about her on Friday, after ‌the US president told an Italian TV channel that she had “begged” him to take a photo with her at a G7 summit, Reuters writes.

Meloni said she was “astonished” by his comments, which were “completely made up.” She also chided him for acting with far greater deference to the enemies of the West than he does towards old, established allies.

Underscoring how ​much Trump’s comments have angered Meloni’s government, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced he was cancelling a planned visit to ​the US next week.

The latest exchange marks a sharp deterioration in ties, coming just days after signs emerged at the G7 summit ⁠that the two right-wing leaders had steadied a previously strained relationship following tensions this year over the war on Iran.

“You are friends again?” European Council President António Costa joked, addressing Trump and Meloni.