BREAKING: Trump further fuels his clash with Meloni for a selfie
World News Update:
Global attention remains focused on this evolving story as officials and analysts assess the broader implications.
Donald Trump is not trying to calm the diplomatic dispute between the United States and Italy. Quite the contrary. The tenant of the White House once again reignited tensions with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday over a selfie during the G7 summit a few days earlier. “Meloni asked, again and again, for a photo with me during the G7 meeting in France,” the American president wrote on his Truth Social platform, reaffirming comments made in a telephone interview with the Italian television channel La7 this week, which had provoked the anger of Rome. Meloni’s scathing response Donald Trump persisted on Saturday and drove home the point: “She is doing poorly in Italy in terms of popularity, perhaps because she has turned her back on the United States of America, a country that truly loves and protects Italy.” “These constant and unprovoked attacks are senseless,” Giorgia Meloni reacted shortly after on Instagram, in a message in English alongside that of the American president. “As for my popularity, being your friend certainly did not help it, and it does not depend on my relationship with you,” replied the head of the Italian government, suggesting that Donald Trump “focus on (his) own.” against Iran. “She didn’t even let us use the airstrips or tarmacs, a major inconvenience,” he said of Italy’s refusal at the end of March to allow American fighter planes engaged in the war in the Middle East to land on a base in Sicily. The use of American military bases in Italy “is governed by agreements that we have always respected and which cannot be violated as long as (she is) Prime Minister”, replied Giorgia Meloni. Our file on ItalyIn Italian this time, Giorgia Meloni assures in this same message that she will not “return to the subject” of Donald Trump’s attacks, “because I always believe in the unity of the West and I do not think that this spectacle is up to our mission”. To see if this will be enough to calm Donald Trump.
International Perspective:
Experts suggest the long-term impact of these developments may become clearer as more information emerges.
Additional reactions from governments and international institutions are expected as the situation evolves.
Our editorial team will continue tracking this story as new reports become available.
Source: This article was originally published by 20Minutes – Actu Monde and adapted for our international English-speaking audience.
Read the original article here.