Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly took the side of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday, June 19, after Meloni hit back at President Donald Trump’s claim that she begged him for a photo at the G7 summit.
Greene, once one of President Trump’s strongest allies in Congress, said she believed Meloni because Trump lies.
Greene Sides With Meloni Against Trump
“I believe Giorgia Meloni, she’s great!” Greene wrote on social media. She then added: “Trump lies. Constantly.”
The sharp break came after Meloni released a video response accusing Trump of making up the story about their interaction in France.
“There is one thing he must remember: Neither I nor Italy ever beg,” Meloni said in Italian. She said she was “astounded” by the president’s comments.
Meloni Rejects Trump’s G7 Photo Claim
Meloni went further, questioning why Trump treats allies this way. “I do not know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his allies; it is certainly not the first time this has happened,” she said.
She added that it was “regrettable” he does not show the same toughness toward the West’s enemies.
The dispute started with a brief interview Trump gave to Italy’s La7 TV channel. Trump said Meloni “wanted a picture with me so badly.”
According to the translation, he continued: “She’s probably happy I talked to her. I didn’t have to talk to her. She begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her.”
Diplomatic Fallout Deepens Between Washington and Rome
The exchange has deepened a growing rift between the U.S. and one of its key European partners.
Shortly before Meloni’s video appeared, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced he was canceling a planned visit to the United States next week.
“The serious and offensive words of President Trump towards Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy,” Tajani wrote. He had been scheduled to visit on June 21 and 22.
Tensions between the two governments have built during the current conflict with Iran. Meloni raised concerns about a deadly strike on an Iranian school and backed the Vatican’s criticism of the war. Those positions appeared to irritate Trump and his administration.
Greene’s decision to back Meloni marks another sign that her once-close relationship with Trump has cooled.
Also Read: South Africa Braces for HIV Funding Loss as Trump Administration Changes Course
The Georgia Republican has grown more vocal in recent weeks, criticizing the president on several fronts, including his handling of the Epstein files and U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts.
Last week, Greene appeared on CNN’s “The Source” and challenged Trump’s recent claim that he never said he would prevent new wars. She pointed to repeated statements he made during the campaign.
“After that interview came out and he’s on record claiming he never said that he wouldn’t go to war, no more foreign wars, you know, people rolled out video after video of him saying on the campaign trail, just like I heard him say personally so many times as I campaigned with him, where he said, ‘No more foreign wars, I will end war. I will bring world peace,’” Greene said. “He said that over and over again.”
The former congresswoman’s comments show indications of frustration among some Trump supporters who feel the president has drifted from promises made on the trail.
Greene, who built much of her national profile through strong loyalty to Trump, has increasingly shown willingness to call him out when she believes he is wrong.
Meloni, a conservative leader with some ideological overlap with Trump, has been viewed favorably by the American right. In those circles, she was recognized for her hard-line on immigration and traditional values.
The photo incident seemed superficial, but it has hit a nerve in diplomatic relations. As part of standard protocol and public diplomacy, leaders routinely pose for pictures at international summits.
Trump’s characterization of Meloni as desperate for a photo was seen by many in Italy as disrespectful. Italian officials have made it clear they will not let the matter drop quietly.
The cancellation of Tajani’s visit is being seen as Rome’s expectation of better treatment from Washington.
