Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that he was canceling a scheduled trip to the U.S. after President Donald Trump’s “offensive” comments about the country’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
“The serious and offensive words of President Trump towards Prime Minister (PM) Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy. For this reason, I have decided to cancel my visit to the United States scheduled for the next 21 and 22 June [2026],” Tajani wrote on X.
Trump Claims Meloni "Begged" For A Photo
Tajani’s abrupt cancellation comes in response to President Trump’s remarks during an interview on Italy’s La7 TV.
“She begged me to take a photo with her. She wanted a photo with me so badly — I could have skipped it, but I felt sorry for her,” Trump said in the brief interview.
In a rapid response, PM Meloni fired back on X with a video, captioned “Neither I nor Italy ever beg.”
Meloni Fires Back
"Donald Trump's statements are completely fabricated. I am frankly stunned," Meloni replied. "I don't know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his own allies. After all, this isn't the first time this has happened."
Previously, President Trump also criticized Meloni’s refusal to provide aid to the U.S. during “Operation Epic Fury.”
"I can only say that it's a shame he doesn't show the same resolve toward the enemies of the West, toward the enemies of the United States — toward leaders with whom he, on the other hand, is much more accommodating," Meloni said. "But there's one thing he must remember: Italy, and I do not beg."
Tajani Was Set To Meet With Secretary Rubio
Tajani was scheduled to come to the U.S. and attend the Italy-U.S. Business, Investment, Science and Innovation Forum in Miami, Florida.
According to a statement from the U.S. State Department, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was set to meet with the Foreign Minister “to advance U.S.-Italy bilateral cooperation on economic security and critical minerals.”
