US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Meloni. Photo: Collected

ROME, July 6, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Italy on Monday criticised US President Donald

Trump's latest social media attack on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni ahead of

this week's NATO summit.

Trump on Sunday published a doctored image on his Truth Social platform

showing Meloni looking at him as if adoringly in a post accompanied by the

words: "Restraining Order Needed".

"People come and go but relations must endure," Italian Defence Minister

Guido Crosetto told the news channel Sky TG24.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also said he was "sure that transatlantic

relations go well beyond individual comments".

Meloni did not respond personally.

She was targeted by Trump last month after the G7 summit where he said that

Meloni had "begged" him for a photo opportunity and that he only agreed

because he "felt sorry for her".

He also accused Meloni of trying to repair relations with Washington for

domestic political reasons after Italy failed to support US action against

Iran.

"These constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless", she said at the time.

"Being your friend certainly has not helped" her popularity, she said,

adding: "I suggest you focus on yours".

Far-right leader Meloni had positioned herself as a European leader able to

mediate between Europe and Trump but has increasingly distanced herself from

him.

Trump has been highly critical of European NATO countries ahead of this

week's meeting in Ankara of the 32-country alliance.

BSS/AFP/SSS/1924 hrs