Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says U.S. President Donald Trump fabricated claims that she "begged" him for a photograph during the Group of Seven (G7) summit in France, triggering a sharp escalation in tensions between two leaders once viewed as close political allies.
The dispute intensified on Friday after Meloni publicly rejected Trump's account and senior Italian officials responded with unusually strong criticism, including the cancellation of planned diplomatic engagements with the United States.
The controversy stems from comments Trump reportedly made to Italy's La7 television network, in which he claimed Meloni had sought a photo with him at the G7 gathering.
According to the broadcaster's Italian translation, Trump said Meloni "begged" for a picture and that he agreed because he "felt sorry for her."
Meloni swiftly rejected the account in a video statement.
She said Trump's comments were "completely made up" and described herself as "astonished" by the remarks.
The Italian leader also criticized Trump for what she characterized as harsher treatment of allies than of the West's adversaries.
"There is one thing he should remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg," she said.
Trump later continued his criticism in an interview with NBC News, questioning Meloni's stance alongside other NATO allies on issues linked to the conflict involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
The dispute prompted an immediate reaction from Rome.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelled a planned visit to the United States, where he was due to attend a business conference in Miami and meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The cancellation also led to the postponement of a U.S.-Italy business forum scheduled for next week.
Several senior Italian officials publicly backed Meloni.
Justice Minister Carlo Nordio said Trump's comments damaged the spirit of longstanding ties between the two countries, while Defence Minister Guido Crosetto dismissed the notion that Meloni would ever plead for a photograph.
Giovanbattista Fazzolari, a senior official in the prime minister's office, went further, warning that Trump's conduct risked undermining historic relations between the United States and Europe.
Neither the White House nor the U.S. State Department immediately responded to the latest criticism from Italian officials.