Meloni hits back at Trump over photo claim

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has hit back at Donald Trump after he claimed she had begged him for a photo at the G7 summit.

“I and Italy never beg,” Meloni said, calling the claim “totally fabricated”.

Trump told Italian broadcaster La7 that Meloni wanted a picture with him “so badly” at the summit in Evian-les-Bains, France.

The row marks a sharp turn in relations between two right-wing leaders who were once close allies.

Meloni said she was “stunned” by Trump’s remarks and questioned why he treated Western allies in that way.

Trump then repeated the claim online and attacked Meloni’s popularity in Italy.

Meloni replied that her popularity was “none of your concern”.