US President Donald Trump on Tuesday described Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as a 'nice person', despite having posted on Truth Social over the weekend that he needed a restraining order against her, according to CNN. Speaking during a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, Trump said he and Meloni had maintained a cordial relationship despite recent differences.
Trump's Remarks on Meloni
Trump said, "I think she's a nice person; actually, we've had a good week. We had a bad relationship. It became a little bad because she refused to help us again." He added, "I think she's a nice person, actually. But I think she made a mistake," referring to Italy's refusal to assist the United States in the war in Iran. Trump noted he did not put a 'heavy press' on Meloni to provide assistance, but after Italy declined, "it soured my relationship with her a little bit."
Background of Tensions
The remarks come days after a public exchange. On Sunday, Trump shared a photograph with Meloni on Truth Social with the caption, 'RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED.' This followed Trump's criticism of NATO allies, including Meloni, over Italy's refusal to support US military efforts against Iran. In a Truth Social post last month, Trump accused some allies of failing to back the US despite decades of American security commitments.
Shift in Relations
The disagreement marked a sharp shift in relations between the two leaders, who had previously maintained cordial ties. Trump had earlier claimed that Meloni had 'begged' him for a photograph, a claim she rejected, saying, 'Neither I nor Italy ever beg.' Despite the war of words, Italy remains a key US ally within NATO. Meloni has stressed that bilateral ties extend beyond leaders, stating, 'These relationships don't begin or end because of who happens to be in power at a particular moment. Foreign policy is more complex than that.'
