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Italy·United States·Europe·Diplomacy

Meloni distances herself from Trump as transatlantic friendship turns toxic

Tuesday, 14 April 2026, 14:58 · 1 min read

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has publicly reaffirmed her condemnation of Donald Trump's attacks on Pope Leo XIV, declaring his remarks "inaceptable" and stating that she "would not feel comfortable in a society where religious leaders do what political leaders say" — a rare open rebuke of her closest international ally. Trump responded sharply in a phone interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, saying he believed Meloni "had courage, but I was wrong," accusing her of refusing to support U.S. efforts in the Iran conflict despite Italy's dependence on Iranian oil, and adding that she is "no longer the same person." The public falling-out marks a significant shift for Meloni, who is already facing domestic political headwinds after a referendum defeat, and comes alongside her government's separate decision to suspend the automatic renewal of Italy's military cooperation agreement with Israel, citing the ongoing conflict in Lebanon — a move welcomed by the opposition as overdue but too slow.

Sources
El PaísTrump ataca a Meloni, su mejor aliada en la UE: “Pensaba que tenía valor, pero me equivoqué” ↗︎
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