Meloni Hits Back at Trump Over Popularity Remarks

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump after he claimed she was trying to improve her domestic standing by rebuilding ties with Washington. Meloni rejected the accusation, calling Trump’s comments false and insisting that her political popularity is not a matter for the U.S. president.

The dispute began after Trump alleged that Meloni had “begged” him for a photograph during this week’s G7 Summit. On Saturday, Trump repeated the claim on his Truth Social platform, misspelling her name as “Gigiorgia” and suggesting that she was seeking to revive their friendship to boost her approval ratings at home.

Responding in English on Instagram, Meloni described Trump’s remarks as “irrational” and said, “My popularity is not your business. I recommend you concentrate on your own.” Despite political challenges, Meloni remains one of Italy’s most popular leaders, with recent polls placing her approval rating at around 35%, while her party, Brothers of Italy, continues to lead national voting intentions ahead of the opposition.