Italy's Meloni seeks to avoid escalation after Trump revives personal feud

Italy's government has decided to cease responding to personal attacks from U.S. President Donald Trump, aiming to protect bilateral relations strained by recent exchanges between the leaders. This decision comes as Trump reignited a personal feud by posting a doctored image of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on social media.

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Trump speaks for himself. We have a US president who loves to provoke, especially on social media. We have decided to stop responding to these remarks

Trump shared a picture of Meloni looking up at him on Truth Social, accompanied by the caption "RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED." This latest provocation occurred shortly before both leaders were expected to attend the NATO summit in Ankara. The move raised questions about Meloni's reaction and potential implications for allied relations at the summit.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that Rome would not "take the bait" and intends to maintain good relations with the U.S. regardless of the president. "Trump speaks for himself. We have a US president who loves to provoke, especially on social media. We have decided to stop responding to these remarks," Tajani told La Stampa newspaper. Other government officials echoed this sentiment, with a source close to Meloni indicating she would greet Trump "with a smile" rather than snubbing him.

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RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED

The relationship between Meloni and Trump, once seen as aligned due to their shared right-wing politics, has faltered. Meloni previously criticized Trump's remarks about Pope Leo, which prompted a rebuke from the U.S. president. Despite speculation about a potential boycott of U.S. Independence Day celebrations, Italian officials attended the event in Rome, signaling a desire to de-escalate tensions.

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with a smile