President Donald Trump continued his public feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Sunday, sharing a post on Truth Social that mocked the Italian leader with a photo suggesting she was fixated on him.
The image showed Meloni looking in Trump’s direction, accompanied by a caption across the top that read, “RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED,” implying that she was acting like a stalker. The post was one of several images Trump shared throughout the day on his social media platform.
Among the other posts were a picture depicting Trump arm wrestling wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, photographs of the president delivering speeches at Mount Rushmore and other recent events, and an early 1990s photograph featuring Trump alongside Marla Maples and actor Macaulay Culkin.
Trump also shared a doctored image showing former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama boarding Air Force One. In the altered image, the aircraft had “BLM,” Obama’s campaign slogan “Yes We Can,” and Arabic writing spray-painted across it.
The latest jab at Meloni comes after relations between the two leaders deteriorated following disagreements over last month’s conflict involving Iran.
Trump previously criticized Meloni and several European countries, arguing they had not done enough to assist the United States during the conflict. He also claimed he declined to take a photograph with Meloni during the G7 Summit in France because Italy would not permit the United States to use “Italy’s landing strips or runways,” a decision he described as creating a “great logistical inconvenience.”
At the time, Trump also dismissed the possibility of repairing the relationship, saying Meloni wanted to become friends again in an effort to improve her standing.
“She wants to be friends again in order to get her ‘numbers up,’” Trump said. “No thanks!!!”
Meloni responded by forcefully rejecting Trump’s remarks, describing his criticism as both “unprovoked” and “senseless.”
She also disputed any suggestion that her relationship with Trump had benefited her politically at home.
“My popularity depends on my ability to defend Italy’s national interest, and that is exactly what I have always done,” Meloni said. “That is also what I did regarding the American military bases in Italy. Their use is governed by agreements that we have always respected, and that cannot be violated as long as I am Prime Minister.”
The Italian prime minister further emphasized her country’s independence, adding, “Italy remains a sovereign nation. In any case, my popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours.”
The ongoing exchange marks a notable shift in what had previously been viewed as one of Trump’s strongest relationships with a European leader.
Last year, Trump publicly praised Meloni during a speech, calling her a “beautiful young woman.” He acknowledged that making such a remark could amount to political suicide in many circumstances but said he was willing to take the chance anyway.
The current war of words stands in sharp contrast to those earlier displays of goodwill, with the two leaders now trading public criticisms over issues tied to the Iran conflict and military cooperation.
More recently, Trump has also broadened his criticism beyond Italy, taking aim at NATO and arguing that the alliance had not done enough to assist during the Iran war. Sunday’s Truth Social post targeting Meloni signaled that the dispute between the two leaders remains far from over.
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