La Russa: Meloni didn't beg Trump; he sought revenge

Italian Senate President Ignazio La Russa strongly defended Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni against former U.S. President Donald Trump's recent claim that she 'begged' him. La Russa dismissed the assertion, suggesting Trump's statement was an act of retaliation.

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First of all, one must see the translation well. I believe that President Trump invented it. One has to wonder why.

"I believe President Trump invented it. One has to wonder why," La Russa stated, positing that Trump sought revenge because Meloni had previously resisted his demands. He drew a parallel to Trump's criticisms of the Pope, implying a pattern of behavior. La Russa asserted that Meloni, unlike some others, does not yield to pressure and always defends Italy's national interests, even if it means disagreeing with allies.

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In my opinion, he did it for revenge. Because Giorgia, at the time, resisted his diktats. After all, before her, he even insulted the Pope.

La Russa expressed certainty that Meloni did not ask Trump for a selfie, comparing the idea to seeing a flying donkey. He explained that Meloni's character is to stand as an equal, which he believes might have irked Trump. "He knows he is the leader of the largest country in the world, along with China. And we are Italy. Giorgia, rightly, in terms of dignity, demands to be treated as an equal," he said.

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For Giorgia, it is normal to remain friends even when you disagree on an issue because you defend your national interests. For Trump, evidently, whoever does not show deference to him deserves to suffer an affront.

According to La Russa, Trump mistook Meloni for a "fan" when she was a "loyal ally." He suggested that Trump expected Meloni to accept anything he proposed, but when she asserted Italy's position, he felt compelled to "punish" her, albeit with a falsehood. La Russa advised against escalating the situation, advocating for a stronger European and Italian stance that focuses on core issues rather than engaging in a positional war with the U.S., as bilateral relations are more enduring than individual presidencies.

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It is impossible, like seeing a flying donkey.