Donald Trump Breaks Silence on Giorgia Meloni Feud. (Image: Internet)
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday sought to downplay his recent public disagreement with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, saying he still considers her "a nice person" despite differences that affected their relationship. His remarks came during a visit to Turkey, where he addressed reporters alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The comments mark Trump's first detailed response after a series of public exchanges that had strained ties between the two leaders in recent weeks.
Speaking at a press conference in Ankara, Trump acknowledged that his relationship with Meloni had deteriorated over disagreements on foreign policy, particularly regarding Iran.
"I think she's a nice person. We've had a good relationship, but it became a little bad because she refused to help us," Trump said.
He added that while he had not applied significant pressure on the Italian leader, he was disappointed by her decision not to support the US position on Iran.
"It soured my relationship with her a little bit, but I like her. I think she made a mistake," he said.
Trump's latest remarks come after he shared an image on his Truth Social platform that intensified speculation about tensions between the two leaders.
The post featured a photograph of Trump standing in front of Meloni during an earlier international meeting, accompanied by the caption "Restraining Order Needed." The image quickly drew attention online and prompted criticism from Italy, with the post widely interpreted as a personal jab at the Italian Prime Minister.
The exchange followed earlier claims by Trump that Meloni had sought a photograph with him during the G7 Summit, remarks that also generated significant political discussion.
Although Trump adopted a more conciliatory tone in Ankara, he maintained that policy disagreements had affected bilateral ties. His comments suggest that while personal relations may remain cordial, differences over international issues continue to shape the relationship between Washington and Rome.
The developments come as global leaders gather for high-level discussions on security and international cooperation, where unity among allies remains a key focus.
