2 sources·Started 22d ago·Updated 22d ago

Trump posts 'restraining order needed' photo with Italy's Meloni ahead of NATO summit

Donald TrumpGiorgia MeloniNATOAnkaraTruth SocialItalyBrothers of ItalyCorriere della Sera

Sources

2outlets

EUGR

Coverage

3articles

US President Donald Trump escalated his public feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by posting a photo of the two on Truth Social with the caption 'Restraining order needed' on the eve of the NATO summit in Ankara. The Italian government opted not to respond, with Corriere della Sera reporting that Rome would not react to the provocation Source: euronewsen.

The backstory

Tensions between the once-close allies have mounted in recent months after Meloni refused to allow US aircraft bound for the Middle East to use an air base in Sicily, following the economic fallout from the US-Israeli war in Iran Source: euronewsen. Trump previously claimed Meloni had 'begged' for a photo to boost her ratings, a charge she dismissed as 'senseless' Source: euronewsen. They also clashed over Pope Leo XIV, with Meloni defending the pontiff after Trump called him 'weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy' Source: euronewsen.

Political standing

Despite the attacks, Meloni's Brothers of Italy party remains the country's most popular political force. A YouTrend survey for Sky TG24 put the party at 28.6% of voting intentions, seven points ahead of the centre-left Democratic Party. However, her personal favourability has slipped: a YouGov poll found 35% favourable and 57% unfavourable, down from 57% favourable in 2023 Source: euronewsen. There is no evidence of an imminent political collapse.

Sources

8 quotes

euronewsen↗

“US President Donald Trump posted an image of himself with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with the caption 'Restraining order needed' in the latest escalation between to the two leaders.”

ground-news↗

“The president of the United States, Donald Trump, published on his social network a photo with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and the message "We need a restraining order" before the NATO summit in Ankara to which both will attend, an attack to which the Italian government has avoided responding.”

euronewsen↗

“According to Corriere della Sera daily, the government does not intend to react 'to this provocation' this time.”

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euronewsen↗

“She is doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity, possibly because she turned down the United States of America, a Country that truly loves and protects Italy, when it came to denying Iran from obtaining or developing a Nuclear Weapon (But so did NATO, for that matter!),”

euronewsen↗

“Meloni rejected the claim, calling it 'senseless.'”

euronewsen↗

“Relations between Trump and Meloni, previously seen as one of the president's closest allies in Europe, have deteriorated in recent months following the economic fallout from the US-Israeli war in Iran and Meloni's subsequent refusal to let the US aircraft bound for the Middle East use its air base in Sicily.”

euronewsen↗

“"The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and it is right and normal for him to call for peace and to condemn every form of war," Meloni said in response.”

euronewsen↗

“A YouTrend survey for Sky TG24 published in June put the party on 28.6% of voting intentions, more than seven points ahead of the centre-left Democratic Party on 21.5%.”

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