Trump 'rekindles tensions' with Meloni, posts photo of Italian prime minister: Protection order needed

2026-07-06 12:58:12Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Trump 'rekindles tensions' with Meloni, posts photo of Italian prime

Donald Trump seems to have not yet put a lid on his anger with Giorgia Meloni. The American president has once again lashed out at the Italian prime minister through a post on the social network Truth Social, where he accompanied a photo of her with the caption: "A protection order is needed."

The post came just before the NATO summit, which takes place on July 7-8 in Ankara, and is seen as the latest episode in the clash between Washington and Rome. This is not the first time Trump has attacked Meloni. After the G7 summit in Evian, he claimed that the Italian chief executive had asked him to take a photo together. Meloni responded in a video on social media, declaring: “Neither I nor Italy are begging anyone.”

The latest post is also expected to affect the atmosphere at the NATO summit, where leaders of member countries will discuss the future of the alliance and increased defense spending. For weeks, member governments have been negotiating to avoid clashes over the target of each country investing 5% of its Gross Domestic Product in the defense sector.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto expressed optimism that the summit would go smoothly, stressing that commitments made would be respected and that the meeting was expected to be short. However, he said that Trump remains an unpredictable factor. The US president, who is also expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ankara, has repeatedly criticized European allies for what he sees as a lack of contribution to defense and security.

Meanwhile, several international media outlets, including Politico, say that Trump's rhetoric towards European allies is intended to pressure them to increase defense investments, which would benefit the American arms industry itself.

Trump 'rekindles tensions' with Meloni, posts photo of Italian prime


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