US President Donald Trump on Saturday (June 20) intensified his public dispute with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, claiming she repeatedly sought a photograph with him during the recent G7 Summit and was now attempting to repair ties with Washington to improve her standing at home.&nbsp;The diplomatic row began after Trump alleged that Meloni had "begged" him for a photograph at the G7 gathering in France and that he agreed because he felt "sorry for her". Meloni swiftly rejected the claims, describing them as "completely made up" and accusing the US president of attacking allies while showing greater leniency towards America's adversaries.

Doubling down on his criticism in a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump suggested that Meloni's popularity in Italy was declining and linked it to her refusal to support the United States on issues related to Iran.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/got-away-with-murder-for-47-years-trump-hits-at-iran-calls-it-world-s-number-one-sponsor-of-terror-1781956806079">‘Got away with murder’ for 47 years, Trump hits out at Iran, calls it ‘world’s number one sponsor of terror’</a>&nbsp;"Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked, over and over, for a picture with me during the G-7 meeting in France. She is doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity, possibly because she turned down the United States of America, a Country that truly loves and protects Italy, when it came to denying Iran from obtaining or developing a Nuclear Weapon (But so did NATO, for that matter!)," Trump wrote.&nbsp;The US president also criticised Italy's decision not to allow American forces to use its airfields and runways, describing it as a significant logistical challenge despite what he said were substantial US contributions towards the defence of Italy and other NATO allies.&nbsp;"She wouldn't even let us use Italy's landing strips or runways, a great logistical inconvenience, and this despite the fact the US contributes hundreds of Billions of Dollars a year to protect Italy, and other 'so-called' NATO Allies. Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her 'numbers up.' No thanks!!!" Trump added.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/very-much-looking-forward-to-it-says-us-ambassador-to-india-sergio-gor-on-modi-trump-bilateral-meeting-1781702924674">'Very much looking forward to it,' US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor to WION on Modi-Trump bilateral meeting</a>

Donald Trump escalated tensions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, claiming she repeatedly begged for a photograph at the G7 summit to boost her declining popularity after opposing US policies.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday (June 20) intensified his public dispute with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, claiming she repeatedly sought a photograph with him during the recent G7 Summit and was now attempting to repair ties with Washington to improve her standing at home. The diplomatic row began after Trump alleged that Meloni had "begged" him for a photograph at the G7 gathering in France and that he agreed because he felt "sorry for her". Meloni swiftly rejected the claims, describing them as "completely made up" and accusing the US president of attacking allies while showing greater leniency towards America's adversaries.

Donald Trump escalated tensions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, claiming she repeatedly begged for a photograph at the G7 summit to boost her declining popularity after opposing US policies.

'She wants to be friends again in order to get her numbers up': Trump escalates tensions with Meloni

After US President Donald Trump's &nbsp;'I'm the boss' remark at the G7 summit in France went viral &nbsp;during the recent G7 summit Trump defended himself saying, he was trying to be funny. During an an interview on The Axios Show, Trump said, "I was trying to be funny. I wasn't trying to be the boss."&nbsp;He explained that the comment was not intended to hurt sentiments but was a joke that was taken out of context.&nbsp;A video of Trump walking into a meeting of G7 leaders and declaring, "I'm the boss", had gone viral.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/must-keep-him-a-little-bit-sane-on-lebanon-trump-takes-rare-jibe-at-netanyahu-1781935048125">Must keep him 'a little bit sane' on Lebanon: Trump takes rare jibe at Netanyahu</a>&nbsp;Recalling the moment, the host asked Trump whether other leaders believed he was the boss to which he replied, "All of them. But I was just being funny. What happened is they're all sitting, and then I walked into the room and it was just sort of funny because there's a very long table, but there's only seven of them. The table was meant for like 30 people."&nbsp;"That was done as a joke. This thing got carried all over the world. I can't believe it. I was trying to be funny. I wasn't trying to be the boss," he added.<h2>What did Trump say about Meloni?</h2>&nbsp;In an interview with Italian television channel La7 after the G7 summit in France, Trump reportedly suggested that Meloni was very eager to be photographed with him and that he had only agreed out of sympathy.&nbsp;Video footage from the summit showed the two leaders sitting together and engaged in an extended conversation.&nbsp;Meloni dismissed Trump’s claims in a strongly worded statement, saying, “Donald Trump’s statements are completely made up. I am frankly astonished.”&nbsp;The Italian PM also criticised what she described as Trump’s tendency to treat allies more harshly than geopolitical rivals.&nbsp;“I can only say it is disappointing that he does not show the same determination with the enemies of the West and of the United States, whose leaders he instead treats with far greater indulgence,” she said.&nbsp;“There is one thing he should remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg," Meloni added.&nbsp;

In an interview with Italian television channel, Trump reportedly suggested that Meloni was very eager to be photographed with him and that he had only agreed out of sympathy.

After US President Donald Trump's 'I'm the boss' remark at the G7 summit in France went viral during the recent G7 summit Trump defended himself saying, he was trying to be funny. During an an interview on The Axios Show, Trump said, "I was trying to be funny. I wasn't trying to be the boss." He explained that the comment was not intended to hurt sentiments but was a joke that was taken out of context. A video of Trump walking into a meeting of G7 leaders and declaring, "I'm the boss", had gone viral. ALSO READ: Must keep him 'a little bit sane' on Lebanon: Trump takes rare jibe at Netanyahu Recalling the moment, the host asked Trump whether other leaders believed he was the boss to which he replied, "All of them. But I was just being funny. What happened is they're all sitting, and then I walked into the room and it was just sort of funny because there's a very long table, but there's only seven of them. The table was meant for like 30 people." "That was done as a joke. This thing got carried all over the world. I can't believe it. I was trying to be funny. I wasn't trying to be the boss," he added. What did Trump say about Meloni? In an interview with Italian television channel La7 after the G7 summit in France, Trump reportedly suggested that Meloni was very eager to be photographed with him and that he had only agreed out of sympathy. Video footage from the summit showed the two leaders sitting together and engaged in an extended conversation. Meloni dismissed Trump’s claims in a strongly worded statement, saying, “Donald Trump’s statements are completely made up. I am frankly astonished.” The Italian PM also criticised what she described as Trump’s tendency to treat allies more harshly than geopolitical rivals. “I can only say it is disappointing that he does not show the same determination with the enemies of the West and of the United States, whose leaders he instead treats with far greater indulgence,” she said. “There is one thing he should remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg," Meloni added.

In an interview with Italian television channel, Trump reportedly suggested that Meloni was very eager to be photographed with him and that he had only agreed out of sympathy.

'Was trying to be funny', says Trump on viral 'I'm the boss' remark at G7 summit

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'She wants to be friends again in order to get her numbers up': Trump escalates tensions with Meloni

'Was trying to be funny', says Trump on viral 'I'm the boss' remark at G7 summit