Trump posts mocking image of Italian PM at NATO summit, Italy vows to ignore him

Donald Trump has escalated his public feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by posting a mocking image of her at a NATO summit in Turkey, prompting Rome to announce it will no longer respond to the American president’s provocations. The photograph, shared on Trump’s social media, showed Meloni gazing at him with a caption appearing to suggest she should be kept away from him—a crude jab at a relationship that has dramatically deteriorated from their previous alignment. The post marks a significant shift in the dynamic between two leaders who, until recently, were regarded as close political allies within Europe’s right-wing political sphere.

Italy’s response was swift and firm. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani declared that Trump “loves to provoke” and that the Italian government had decided to “stop responding” to his attacks. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto echoed this sentiment more philosophically, stating that “people come and go, but relations between states endure”—a pointed reminder that transient personal conflicts should not derail diplomatic ties.

The deterioration between Trump and Meloni represents a notable split within Europe’s conservative political movements. Meloni, who has built her political brand on strong conservative credentials, had previously been described by some observers as Europe’s “Trump whisperer.” However, the relationship has soured in recent months, with Meloni increasingly distancing herself from the former and prospective US president. The Italian government’s decision to adopt a policy of strategic silence toward Trump’s provocations suggests they believe further engagement with his provocative tactics would only amplify the conflict and damage Italy’s broader diplomatic interests.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.