Trump escalates feud with Meloni, posts doctored image with 'Restraining order needed' caption

Donald Trump has reignited his public feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, marking the start of the NATO summit with a fresh online attack. Trump posted a doctored image on his Truth Social platform depicting Meloni looking at him admiringly, with the caption "Restraining order needed." This move appears to be a rebuke to Meloni for diverging from the U.S. position on the Iran war and for not increasing Italy's defense spending.

Meloni has remained silent on the matter, while her ministers have responded with measured distance. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stated, "People come and go, relationships remain," and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani emphasized that Rome does not respond to "such statements," asserting that transatlantic relations extend far beyond them.

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People come and go, relationships remain

This is not the first time Trump has targeted Meloni, having previously posted personal insults, videos, and photos. He accuses her of blocking U.S. jets from operating out of Sicily during the Iran conflict, a move Meloni made in line with the EU's stance. Additionally, a significant portion of Italians, including Meloni's own voters, oppose the war.

Italy's defense spending is also a point of contention. While Meloni asserts that Rome is on track to meet its defense spending commitments, actual expenditures have decreased compared to the previous year, potentially impacting orders from the U.S. arms industry. Despite the controversy, the public dispute with Trump seems to be benefiting Meloni, boosting her international profile and leading to a significant rise in her domestic approval ratings, now at 40 percent.

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We are convinced that transatlantic relations go far beyond this, we simply carry on.