Giorgia Meloni was the only European head of state to attend Trump’s inauguration. She has been called the “Trump whisperer” throughout most of his second term.
On Sunday, two days before the two leaders are scheduled to be in the same room at the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump posted an edited photo of her looking up at him with the caption: “Restraining Order Needed.” He offered nothing else to go with it.
Trump: Posts image reading “RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED” over Trump and Giorgia Meloni photo pic.twitter.com/BWHmeQnn1D
— Stefan K. (@Nighttiger1) July 6, 2026
The post arrived amid a weekend spree in which Trump shared more than 100 times on Truth Social within eight hours, mixed in with photos of himself arm wrestling Hulk Hogan, an early ’90s picture with Marla Maples and Macaulay Culkin, and a doctored image of Barack and Michelle Obama boarding Air Force One with “BLM” and Obama’s “Yes We Can” slogan spray-painted onto the plane.
Trump shares doctored image of Obama and Michele with Graffiti-covered Air Force One #trump #Obama #AirForceOne pic.twitter.com/08d2R7FFtI
— Jammu Tribune (@JammuTribune) July 6, 2026
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Buried in that mix was a feud with a much longer runway. It started at the G7 summit last month, when Trump told Italian broadcaster La7 that Meloni had “begged” him for a photo together.
“She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her,” he said, and then repeated the claim to NBC News, adding that Meloni was “a big fan” of his but that he didn’t want her as a fan “because she was not there — along with the NATO group — having to do with the Strait” of Hormuz.
Meloni was not willing to let that stand. She called the claim “completely fabricated” in a video statement, saying: “I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his own allies. After all, this isn’t the first time this has happened.”
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled a planned trip to the United States over the remarks. Trump, rather than backing down, doubled down on Truth Social, writing that Meloni had asked “over and over” and adding: “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.”
Meloni’s reply matched the tone. “These constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless,” she said. “As for my popularity, being your friend has certainly not helped it, nor does it depend on my relationship with you.” She ended with: “I suggest you focus on yours.”
Featured image via Truth Social screengrab
