Trump and Meloni’s problems clearly aren’t over.
An awkward moment between President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is generating plenty of discussion after the two leaders appeared to avoid one another during Wednesday’s NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
As NATO leaders assembled for an official group photo, Trump walked past Meloni without stopping to greet her, a brief exchange that quickly spread across social media and fueled speculation about lingering tensions between two of the West’s most prominent conservative leaders.
WATCH:
🇮🇹🇺🇸🇹🇷 BREAKING: Meloni appears to avoid greeting Trump at NATO summit
As Donald Trump walked onto the stage for the NATO leaders’ family photo, Giorgia Meloni turned her head away, appearing to avoid greeting him. pic.twitter.com/YjwcDk9LFh
— JIMMYTALKSTV (@JimmyDailyNews) July 8, 2026
The moment comes after weeks of public disagreement over Italy’s decision not to allow U.S. military operations against Iran to be launched from Italian bases.
Despite the renewed attention surrounding their relationship, Meloni made it clear she stands by every decision her government has made.
Speaking with reporters following the NATO summit, the Italian prime minister said her focus remains on protecting Italy’s interests while preserving unity among Western allies.
“I don’t regret anything I’ve done,” Meloni said, adding that her decisions have always been guided by her belief in a strong and united West.
Meloni also rejected suggestions that her diplomatic approach has changed because of Trump.
Instead, she said she works with every world leader in the same manner and believes relationships between allies should be based on mutual respect rather than political convenience.
Even amid recent disagreements, Meloni noted that she and Trump continue to agree on several major issues, including border security, illegal immigration, and opposition to progressive “woke” cultural policies.
“Things are going as we’ve seen, but I’m not changing my mind,” she said.
Relations between the two leaders became more strained after Trump claimed Meloni had asked him for a selfie during last month’s G7 summit. The Italian leader immediately denied the claim.
“Italy and I never beg,” Meloni responded, calling the allegation completely fabricated.
Over the weekend, Trump added to the controversy by sharing an edited image on Truth Social showing Meloni smiling toward him alongside a caption joking that he needed a “restraining order.”
When questioned about the post during Wednesday’s summit, Trump appeared to soften his tone.
“She’s a nice person, actually,” Trump told reporters.
He acknowledged that their relationship had cooled after Italy declined to support certain U.S. military operations connected to Iran but emphasized that he still respected the Italian leader.
“I think she made a mistake,” Trump said, while adding that he still considers Meloni a good person.
Meloni also reaffirmed Italy’s position regarding U.S. military operations in the Middle East.
She said Italy will continue honoring its NATO commitments but will not participate in military strikes against Iran.
“We respect our commitments, as serious nations do, but we said that we would not participate in attacks against Iran, and we did not participate,” she stated.
The Italian prime minister also questioned whether recent military action had achieved its strategic objectives, arguing that diplomacy remains the better long-term solution.
“I believe that the military option has not produced particularly concrete results,” Meloni said, while encouraging continued negotiations with Tehran.
The brief interaction between Trump and Meloni has once again placed their relationship under the spotlight. While both leaders continue to share similar views on several key issues, recent disagreements over foreign policy suggest that even close allies can find themselves at odds when national interests diverge.