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.