"Restraining order needed": Trump again attacks Giorgia Meloni with social media post

Former US President Donald Trump reignited his public feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by posting a provocative image on social media. The image, shared on Sunday ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, featured the caption "RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED" superimposed over a photograph of Meloni.

This latest salvo follows a reported cooling of relations between the two leaders. Trump and Meloni were previously on friendly terms, but their relationship reportedly soured after Italy declined to support the United States in a conflict with Iran. Trump has previously accused Meloni of seeking to mend their relationship solely to boost her domestic approval ratings.

Meloni has not directly responded to Trump's latest social media attack. However, Carlo Calenda, the leader of Italy's centrist Action Party, publicly defended the Prime Minister, denouncing Trump as a "contemptible bully."

In past exchanges, Meloni has dismissed Trump's claims about her motives as "nonsensical." She stated that her relationship with him had not helped her popularity and that his standing was of no concern to her. She concluded these previous remarks by indicating she would not comment further on the matter.

The renewed public criticism from Trump adds a layer of tension as leaders gather for the NATO summit, where international cooperation and alliances are under scrutiny.