Summary
- US President Donald Trump has reignited his public dispute with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by sharing a doctored image on Truth Social just days before the two are expected to come face to face at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
- The post follows weeks of heightened public hostility between the two, triggered by Trump’s claim that Meloni had “begged” him for a photograph, a characterisation the Italian prime minister and her office strongly rejected.
- The NATO summit in Ankara will be the first time the two leaders have met since their dispute became fully public, making their interaction one of the more closely watched sideline moments of the entire gathering.
US President Donald Trump has reignited his public dispute with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by sharing a doctored image on Truth Social just days before the two are expected to come face to face at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
The altered image was captioned with the words “Restraining order needed,” a pointed jab at Meloni that carried unmistakable personal edge given the weeks of increasingly public tension between the two leaders. The image was based on authentic footage from the G7 summit, where Trump, Meloni and other world leaders were gathered, but the photograph of Meloni had been altered to make her appear captivated or infatuated with Trump.
The post follows weeks of heightened public hostility between the two, triggered by Trump’s claim that Meloni had “begged” him for a photograph, a characterisation the Italian prime minister and her office strongly rejected. The back and forth has been unusual given that Meloni had been among Trump’s most reliable European allies, and was notably the only European leader to attend his inauguration in 2025.
The timing of the meme was not lost on observers. With the NATO summit in Ankara approaching and both leaders scheduled to attend, the post represents what many are calling petty diplomacy on the eve of a significant geopolitical gathering. Social media reaction was divided, with some finding the post amusing and others describing it as an embarrassing way for a sitting president to behave before a major summit.
At the G7 footage that forms the basis of the meme, European Council President Antonio Costa had joked to Meloni and Trump, “So you’re friends again,” with Meloni laughing and replying, “We have always been friends.” The warmth of that exchange now sits in sharp contrast to the current state of their relationship.
The NATO summit in Ankara will be the first time the two leaders have met since their dispute became fully public, making their interaction one of the more closely watched sideline moments of the entire gathering.
