US President Donald Trump told an Italian TV channel that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni “begged me for a picture” at this week's G7 summit — and that he only agreed because he “felt sorry for her.”

Meloni didn't take it quietly. She called Trump's comments “made up” and posted on X: “Neither I nor Italy ever beg.”

Italy's foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, immediately cancelled a trip to the US scheduled for June 21 and 22, calling Trump's words “grave and offensive.” Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said “these jokes don't benefit anyone,” and Justice Minister Carlo Nordio described the remarks as a “painful injury” to relations between the two countries.

The drama started after Trump gave a phone interview to Italian channel La7. A written transcript of the conversation, provided to AFP by the network, shows Trump saying Meloni was probably “happy that I talked to her, I didn't have to talk to her.”

Meloni, a far-right leader who has tried to position herself as a bridge between Europe and the Trump administration, said she was “frankly stunned.” She added: “I don't know why the president of the United States behaves this way with his own allies. I can only say that it's a pity he doesn't show the same determination with enemies of the West, with enemies of the United States, with leaders with whom, instead, he is far more accommodating.”

At the end of the G7 summit in Evian, France, on Wednesday, Meloni had described a “very positive climate” and said there was “no friction” between Trump and other leaders. She also acknowledged that she and Trump both have “quite strong characters.” She was seen several times with the US president at the summit, including a meeting on a sofa after which he appeared to pat her shoulder.

But this isn't the first time Trump has turned on Meloni. In April, he lashed out after she defended Pope Leo XIV from his harsh criticism of the pontiff's anti-war views. Meloni called Trump's remarks “unacceptable,” and Trump shot back in an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera: “I'm shocked at her. I thought she had courage, but I was wrong.” He also accused Meloni of failing to help the US with NATO.

Trump has previously threatened to pull US troops from Italy, saying Rome “hasn't been of any help to us” in the Iran war. The relationship between the two allies has been under strain throughout the Middle East conflict.