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Meloni Slams Trump for ‘Totally Invented’ G7 Photo Claim as Diplomatic Rift Deepens

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has fiercely accused U.S. President Donald Trump of fabricating a story after he claimed she “begged” him for a photograph at the recent G7 summit in France. Trump told Italy’s La7 TV channel that Meloni desperately wanted a picture with him and that he only complied because he “felt sorry for her.” Meloni expressed her astonishment at the remarks, stating they were “completely made up” and firmly declaring that neither she nor Italy ever begs. She further chided the U.S. President for showing “far greater indulgence” toward the enemies of the West than toward long-standing international allies.

The public verbal dispute has triggered an immediate and severe diplomatic backlash from Rome, signaling a sharp deterioration in ties between the two right-wing leaders. Underscoring the Italian government’s fury, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced the immediate cancellation of his scheduled official visit to the United States next week, labeling Trump’s comments “serious and offensive” to the entire nation of Italy. This abrupt fallout comes just days after the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, where video footage of the two leaders conversing cordially on a sofa suggested they had stabilized a relationship previously strained by disagreements over the ongoing conflict with Iran.

The rhetoric from Meloni’s inner circle has reached unprecedented levels of hostility for the usually close allies. Giovanbattista Fazzolari, undersecretary to the prime minister’s office, released a scathing statement accusing Trump of “wrecking the historic relations between the United States and Europe” through either intent or ineptitude. The current hostility marks a dramatic shift for Meloni, who was notably the only European leader to attend Trump’s inauguration in 2025, but whose relationship with the administration has crumbled following public disagreements over the papacy and the geopolitical handling of the West Asia conflict.

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New Far-Right Party Surpasses Italy’s League in Polls

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Italy’s emerging far-right party, Futuro Nazionale, has overtaken the League for the first time in a national opinion poll. The movement, led by former army general Roberto Vannacci, secured 5.9% support, narrowly ahead of the League’s 5.8%, continuing a steady rise since its launch earlier this year.

Founded in February after Vannacci and several lawmakers split from the League, Futuro Nazionale aims to become the dominant force on Italy’s far right. Its growing popularity has added a new dynamic to the country’s political landscape and is drawing attention ahead of next year’s national election.

The party’s rise is creating challenges for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her ruling coalition. While Meloni’s Brothers of Italy remains the country’s most popular party with 27.8% support, questions remain over whether an alliance with Vannacci could emerge as Italy’s right-wing parties compete for influence.

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Far-Right General Roberto Vannacci Launches Party, Challenging Italian PM Meloni

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Former general Roberto Vannacci has created a significant political headache for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with the rapid rise of his new far-right party, Futuro Nazionale. Launched just four months after Vannacci broke away from Meloni’s coalition ally, the League party, the movement has already attracted nearly 100,000 paying members and is polling at 4.6%. Accusing Meloni’s government of becoming a “fearful right” that has softened on Brussels, crime, and immigration, Vannacci’s rapid ascent presents Meloni with a difficult dilemma ahead of next year’s tight election: alliance with a radical element or risking a fractured right-wing vote.

Vannacci, a 57-year-old former paratrooper and ex-defence attaché to Russia, initially shot to prominence by publishing a controversial book disparaging LGBTQ+ individuals, migrants, and feminists. Though suspended from active military service for bringing the army into disrepute, he was embraced by League leader Matteo Salvini, using that momentum to win a seat in the European Parliament in 2024. Now running his own anti-EU, pro-Russia movement, Vannacci is successfully siphoning support away from Salvini’s League, forcing mainstream right-wing leaders to consider adopting more radical stances to prevent being completely outmanoeuvred.

While no ruling coalition parties have officially proposed an alliance, Vannacci’s rise threatens to undermine Meloni’s efforts to recast her Brothers of Italy party as a mainstream, credible conservative force in Brussels and Washington. Futuro Nazionale has already poached eight lawmakers from government ranks and explicitly opposes unconditional financial and military aid to Ukraine. Mainstream coalition partners, such as Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani’s Forza Italia, remain deeply uncomfortable with Vannacci’s radical alignment with groups like Germany’s AfD, yet the rising poll numbers may eventually force a compromise to keep the centre-left out of power.

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Italy Cuts Growth Forecast, Sees Economy Expanding 0.7% Through 2027

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Italy’s national statistics bureau ISTAT has slightly lowered its economic growth forecast for 2026, projecting gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 0.7%, down from the 0.8% estimate issued in December. The agency also expects the economy to expand by 0.7% in 2027, supported by stronger-than-expected performance in the first quarter, when GDP rose 0.3% from the previous three months.

Despite the downgrade, ISTAT’s outlook remains somewhat more optimistic than forecasts from the European Commission, IMF, OECD and the Bank of Italy, all of which expect growth between 0.5% and 0.6% over the next two years. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government also revised its projections lower in April, citing rising energy costs and ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

ISTAT warned that geopolitical uncertainty continues to pose risks to the economy, particularly developments related to the conflict in the Middle East. The statistics bureau also improved its labour market outlook, forecasting an average unemployment rate of 5.5% this year and in 2027, lower than its previous estimate of 6.1%. Italy’s economy grew 0.5% in 2025, marking a third consecutive year of growth below 1%.

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Mussolini-Style Ads Targeting Meloni Trigger Political Storm in Italy

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A political advertising campaign in Italy comparing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to fascist dictator Benito Mussolini has sparked heated debate and drawn major attention online. The posters, displayed in train stations in cities including Rome and Milan, used typography and slogans inspired by 1930s fascist propaganda to criticize Meloni’s government over issues like train delays, inflation and youth migration.

One of the most controversial ads read, “When she was around, trains arrived late,” a twist on a phrase often used nostalgically by Mussolini supporters. The campaign was launched by the small opposition party Italia Viva, led by former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, as part of a fundraising effort. Some ads were later removed after railway advertising operators said they harmed the company’s image.

The campaign also reignited discussions about Meloni’s political roots, as her Brothers of Italy party traces its origins to a post-war movement founded by fascist veterans. While Italia Viva accused the government of censorship, Meloni denied involvement and even praised Renzi for the campaign idea. The controversy has boosted visibility for Italia Viva, which currently holds a small share in opinion polls.

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Car Ploughs Into Pedestrians in Italy, Eight Injured

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A man drove a car at high speed into pedestrians in Modena on Saturday, injuring eight people, including four seriously, according to Italian authorities. One woman suffered devastating injuries and had both legs amputated. The vehicle crashed into a shop window near the city’s cathedral before the driver emerged carrying a knife and attacked a passer-by who tried to stop him.

The suspect, a 31-year-old Italian national of Moroccan origin, was eventually restrained by bystanders after injuring a man who chased him. Witnesses said the car suddenly accelerated toward the pavement at speeds estimated around 100 km/h, sending people flying. Officials said the suspect had previously been referred to a mental health centre in 2022 for schizoid disorders but later disappeared from treatment monitoring.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the incident as “extremely serious” and visited victims in hospital alongside President Sergio Mattarella. Meloni also praised passer-by Luca Signorelli for intervening to stop the suspect despite being attacked with a knife. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the motive behind the attack.

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Switzerland Seeks Reimbursement from Italy Over Fire Victims’ Treatment

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Switzerland has sparked diplomatic tension with Italy after announcing plans to recover medical costs for treating Italian nationals घायल in the deadly New Year’s Eve fire at the Crans-Montana ski resort, which killed 41 people. The Swiss Federal Social Insurance Office confirmed that the expenses would be billed under existing cross-border healthcare agreements.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni strongly criticised the move, calling it “disgraceful” and stating that Italy would reject any formal request for payment. Swiss authorities clarified that the charges would not be directed at victims’ families but instead billed to the relevant foreign health insurer, which in Italy’s case would involve the government.

The dispute has further strained relations between the two countries, with Italian officials highlighting their own support during the tragedy, including medical treatment for Swiss victims and emergency rescue assistance. Switzerland is reportedly seeking over 100,000 Swiss francs for treating a small number of Italian patients, intensifying the diplomatic disagreement.

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Italy Rejects Equal Parental Leave as Fathers Challenge Norms Online

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Italy’s parliament has voted down a proposal to introduce equal parental leave for mothers and fathers, rejecting a plan that aimed to balance caregiving responsibilities. The measure, which would have provided equal, fully paid and non-transferable leave, was defeated by the ruling coalition citing financial constraints, drawing criticism from opposition leaders who called it a missed opportunity for social change.

Despite the policy setback, a growing number of Italian fathers are reshaping traditional roles through social media. Influencers like Diego Di Franco share daily caregiving routines, highlighting a more involved and equal approach to parenting. Experts say these “dad influencers” are helping shift cultural perceptions of fatherhood in a country where women still bear most childcare responsibilities.

Italy continues to face one of the widest gender employment gaps in the European Union, with many women leaving jobs after childbirth. Analysts argue that unequal parental leave policies reinforce this imbalance, affecting economic growth and demographic trends. While change at the policy level remains slow, evolving social attitudes suggest a gradual transformation in how parenting roles are shared.

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Italy Suspends Renewal of Defence Agreement with Israel Amid Rising Tensions

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Italy has decided not to renew its five-year defence cooperation agreement with Israel, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced, citing the “current situation” without providing further details. Officials said the government is still assessing what the suspension will mean in practice for military and technical cooperation between the two countries.

The move comes as diplomatic relations between Rome and Tel Aviv have recently deteriorated. Italy summoned the Israeli ambassador after Israeli forces fired warning shots near an Italian UN peacekeeping convoy in Lebanon, while Israel later summoned Italy’s ambassador following critical remarks from Italy’s foreign minister about Israeli actions in Lebanon. Italy has also faced domestic pressure, with public protests calling for restrictions on military ties with Israel.

Italy is a significant but relatively small supplier of arms to Israel compared to the United States and Germany. The decision also comes amid broader political shifts in Europe, where several countries have reconsidered defence exports to Israel during the ongoing Gaza conflict, which has caused heavy casualties and intensified international criticism.

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Meloni’s Gulf Visit Focuses on Energy Security and Regional Stability

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Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni began a surprise diplomatic tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, marking the first visit by a European Union leader to the Gulf since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran in February. During her stop in Jeddah, Meloni is expected to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with discussions centered on regional security and strengthening ties with Gulf partners facing rising tensions and Iranian attacks.

The visit aims to reassure Gulf allies while safeguarding Italy’s energy needs as fuel prices rise and supply disruptions grow. Italy relies significantly on the region for energy, with Qatari liquefied natural gas previously covering about 10% of its gas consumption and Middle Eastern oil accounting for roughly 12% of imports. Ongoing conflict has disrupted shipments, including suspended LNG deliveries due to instability around the Strait of Hormuz and damage to part of Qatar’s export capacity.

To offset potential shortages, Italy is expanding energy partnerships beyond the Gulf. Meloni recently visited Algeria to secure additional gas supplies and plans a future trip to Azerbaijan, another key supplier. Italy also expects LNG deliveries from the United States’ Golden Pass facility starting in June, as Rome works to diversify energy sources and maintain supply stability amid escalating geopolitical uncertainty.

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