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Tensions betwixt Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni escalated Tuesday aft nan U.S. president publically rebuked 1 of his closest European allies, accusing her of lacking "courage" and failing to support Washington’s efforts against Iran.
In a telephone question and reply pinch Italian regular newspaper Corriere della Sera, Trump called Meloni "unacceptable" and said he was "shocked" by her stance, according to nan outlet’s English-language version.
The conflict pinch Trump was further fueled by Meloni’s disapproval of his caller remarks targeting Pope Leo XIV, which she called "unacceptable," prompting Trump to respond that "she is nan 1 who is unacceptable."
In a scathing rebuke of nan Vatican’s telephone for Middle Eastern de-escalation, President Trump took to Truth Social to blast Pope Leo XIV. Labeling nan Pontiff "WEAK connected Crime" and "terrible for Foreign Policy," Trump warned him to "focus connected being a Great Pope, not a Politician." The post, which quickly went viral, accused nan first American Pope of "catering to nan Radical Left" astatine nan disbursal of world security.
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In nan question and reply to Corriere della Sera Trump besides reiterated disapproval of Pope Leo XIV, saying nan pontiff "has nary thought what’s going connected successful Iran" and "doesn’t understand" what is astatine stake.
Tensions betwixt Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni escalated Tuesday. (Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)
She "isn’t giving america immoderate help, I’m shocked by her," Trump said astir Meloni successful nan six-minute conversation.
He went further, accusing Meloni of relying connected Washington while refusing to act.
"They dangle connected Donald Trump to support it open," he said, referring to world power routes done nan Strait of Hormuz.
The comments people a crisp displacement successful reside toward Meloni, who attended Trump’s 2025 inauguration and was praised by him arsenic "a awesome leader" conscionable weeks ago.
The White House and Meloni’s agency did not instantly respond.
The nationalist rift comes arsenic Meloni has begun distancing herself from some Washington and Jerusalem amid mounting home and governmental unit complete nan widening Middle East conflict.
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U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks, arsenic Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer applaud, pursuing nan charismatic signing of nan first shape of nan Gaza ceasefire statement betwixt Israel and Hamas, during a world leaders' acme connected ending nan Gaza war, successful Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, Oct. 13, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)
On Tuesday, Meloni confirmed successful a connection that Italy had suspended nan automatic renewal of a long-standing defense practice statement pinch Israel, signaling a important recalibration successful ties.
"In ray of nan existent situation, nan authorities has decided to suspend nan automatic renewal of nan defence statement pinch Israel," she said, according to Reuters.
The move follows caller tensions betwixt Rome and Jerusalem, including Israeli informing shots fired adjacent Italian troops serving successful southern Lebanon nether a U.N. mandate, arsenic good arsenic increasing Italian disapproval of Israeli subject operations successful nan region.
Israel downplayed nan effect of nan decision, saying nan statement was mostly symbolic and "has ne'er contained immoderate substantive content," Reuters reported.
In Israel, guidance leader Yair Lapid sharply criticized nan authorities pursuing Italy’s move.
"Italy’s determination to suspend nan defense practice statement pinch Israel is different embarrassing nonaccomplishment of nan premier curate and nan non-existent overseas minister," Lapid wrote connected X.
TRUMP SAYS HE'S CONSIDERING PULLING US OUT OF NATO OVER IRAN WAR STANCE
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is greeted by US Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley (L) upon presence astatine nan White House South Portico successful Washington, DC, connected August 18, 2025. European leaders subordinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky successful talks pinch US President Donald Trump connected August 18, arsenic they effort to find a measurement to extremity Russia's offensive. The leaders heading to Washington connected Monday to look alongside Zelensky telephone themselves nan "coalition of nan willing." (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) (Mandel Ngan/AFP)
"Meloni is not a left-wing progressive European leader," she added. "She belongs to nan blimpish correct and understands nan request to conflict terrorism."
Meloni’s displacement reflects what analysts picture arsenic a broader governmental repositioning, arsenic nan war’s economical fallout, peculiarly rising power costs, weighs heavy connected Italy’s import-dependent system and nationalist opinion.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani defended Meloni, reaffirming Italy’s confederation pinch nan United States while emphasizing that practice must beryllium grounded successful "loyalty, respect and communal frankness."
The escalating tensions item increasing fractures wrong Western alliances arsenic nan U.S.-led confrontation pinch Iran reverberates crossed Europe, forcing leaders for illustration Meloni to equilibrium strategical partnerships pinch home governmental realities.
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A vessel is seen passing done nan Strait of Hormuz during a two-week impermanent ceasefire betwixt nan United States and Iran connected April 8, 2026. (Shady Alassar/Anadolu/Getty Images)
The Israel Defense Ministry declined to comment.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Efrat Lachter is simply a overseas analogous for Fox News Digital covering world affairs and nan United Nations. Follow her connected X @efratlachter. Stories tin beryllium sent to [email protected].
