Calenda: 'Trump is as mad as Caligula, he expected a cheerleader. The prime minister should choose Europe'
Translated from Italian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
Interview
Named sources
Context piece
- Italian politician Carlo Calenda describes former US President Donald Trump as mentally ill and compares him to Emperor Caligula.
- Calenda believes Trump attacked Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni because she did not act as his "cheerleader" and asserted Italy's independence.
- He advises European countries to recognize that the US under Trump may not be a reliable ally and that Meloni's stance is strategically sound.
Carlo Calenda, leader of the Italian political party Azione, has issued a scathing assessment of former US President Donald Trump, labeling him "mentally ill" and comparing his behavior to that of Emperor Caligula. Calenda suggests that Trump's attacks on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stem from her refusal to be subservient.
Trump is a mentally ill patient, it is now confirmed.
"He considered her his vassal, but Meloni responded," Calenda stated, referencing Meloni's independent stance on issues like the Hormuz crisis. He believes Trump expected Meloni to act as his "cheerleader," and her pushback, particularly her declaration that "Italy and I never beg," infuriated him. Calenda praised Meloni for her firm response, contrasting it with other European leaders whom he feels have passively accepted Trump's insults.
He considered her his vassal and instead Meloni responded.
Calenda urged European nations to acknowledge a potential shift in US foreign policy under Trump, suggesting that "the US is no longer there" as a reliable partner. He cited Trump's past treatment of French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife as an example of his abrasive style. He believes Meloni's assertive approach, despite potential risks, will be politically beneficial for her within Italy, given Trump's low approval rating among Italians.
He thought he had his cheerleader in front of him, that was not the case and this drives him crazy. And it does credit to the Italian prime minister.
The Italian politician also criticized Trump's intervention in the World Cup, where he influenced the decision to remove a player's suspension, calling it a "grave" act with global implications. Calenda predicts a "delusional Trump, like Caligola," at the upcoming NATO summit, driven by anger over European nations' lack of support in Iran and their failure to meet military spending commitments. He characterized Trump as a "cleptocrat, aspiring dictator."
We must be aware that the US is no longer there and it does not only concern Italy, but European countries in general.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Corriere della Sera in Italian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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