Tajani called Trump’s remarks “serious and offensive” toward both Meloni and Italy, while announcing the cancellation of his scheduled visit to Washington this weekend.

The dispute erupted after an interview with Trump aired on Italy’s La7 television network on Friday. According to the broadcaster, Trump said Meloni had requested a photo opportunity with him during the recent G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains and claimed she had “begged” for it. La7 published a dubbed version of the exchange online.

Responding in a video statement, Meloni described Trump’s account as “completely fabricated” and expressed surprise at the comments.

“Donald Trump’s statements are completely fabricated. I am frankly stunned,” Meloni said. “I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his own allies.”

She added: “Italy and I do not beg.”

The unusually direct public rebuttal marked one of Meloni’s sharpest responses to Trump since the start of his second term. The Italian leader had initially sought to preserve close transatlantic ties and position herself as a bridge between Washington and the European Union, including by attending Trump’s inauguration as the only European Union head of government present.

Relations between Rome and Washington, however, have become increasingly strained over several foreign policy issues. Meloni has criticized the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran as illegal, while Italy remains a firm supporter of Ukraine, an issue that has also generated friction with Trump.

Differences over U.S. tariffs and Washington’s support for Israel’s military operations in Gaza have further complicated bilateral relations.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto also rejected Trump’s characterization, saying he could not imagine Meloni asking anyone for a photograph.

“I can, however, imagine how much it cost her to set aside what Trump had said weeks ago, to serve the interests of Italy, of Europe, and of the West,” Crosetto wrote on X.

He added that such remarks did not benefit either country or the broader Western alliance.

The controversy follows earlier criticism directed at Meloni by Trump in an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper in April, when he faulted her opposition to the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran. Meloni did not publicly respond at the time.

The latest exchange has brought those tensions into the open, underscoring the challenges facing one of Washington’s traditionally closest partners in Europe as disagreements widen over key geopolitical issues.