Trump to Meloni: "A Restraining Order Is Needed" – New NATO Summit Feud

Donald Trump is heading to the NATO summit in Ankara, but his focus is not on unity. The US President is bringing a list of grievances against key allies, with a particularly harsh attack on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Before leaving, Trump posted a photo of Meloni on Truth Social with the caption: "A restraining order is needed." The comment trivializes a legal measure often used in domestic violence cases. Trump’s anger is widespread. He has insulted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and attacked UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not supporting US bombings in Iran. He has also criticized Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for refusing to meet the 5% GDP military spending target. “Spain is a disaster,” Trump said. “They don’t want to pay anything.” But the sharpest conflict is with Meloni. Although both are right-wing populists, Meloni distanced herself from Trump after he attacked Pope Leo XIV. Meloni knows opposing the Vatican hurts her at home. The feud started when Trump told an Italian journalist that Meloni “begged” him for a photo at the G7 summit. Meloni denied this, calling it “an invention.” In a video response, she said: “I do not beg, and neither does Italy.” Trump then accused Meloni of blocking US use of Italian airbases during the Iran war, calling it a “great logistical inconvenience.” He claimed her popularity is low because she “turned her back on the United States.” Meloni fired back on Instagram: “These constant and unjustified attacks are absurd. My popularity depends on defending Italy’s national interest. That is what I have always done.” She added: “Italy remains a sovereign nation. I suggest you focus on your own popularity.”