Trump-Meloni ties see turnaround as US President calls Italian PM a “Nice Person” after rift
US President Donald Trump has softened his tone towards Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after a recent diplomatic fallout, describing her as a “nice person” while maintaining that their relationship had been affected by differences over the Iran conflict.
The change in tone comes after tensions grew between Washington and Rome following disagreements over Meloni’s position on US actions related to Iran. Trump criticised Meloni for not offering stronger support, saying she had made a mistake, but added that he continued to respect her personally.
The relationship between the two leaders had earlier been considered one of the strongest among US and European allies. However, differences emerged after Trump claimed Meloni had sought a photograph with him during the G7 summit, a remark that was rejected by Italian officials. The episode further strained ties ahead of the NATO summit.
Meloni, who has often positioned herself as a bridge between Europe and the United States, has maintained Italy’s commitment to transatlantic cooperation while balancing differences with Washington on key foreign policy issues.
The latest remarks indicate an attempt to ease tensions as NATO allies face challenges over defence commitments, global security issues and ongoing diplomatic disputes. Trump’s interactions with European leaders are being closely watched ahead of alliance discussions.
