Former U.S. President Donald Trump has drawn sharp criticism in Italy after posting a photo of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni accompanied by the comment “restraining order needed.” The post on Trump’s Truth Social platform came just days before the two leaders were scheduled to meet at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, further intensifying an already strained relationship.
Trump’s remark appeared to mock Meloni by suggesting she was overly eager to associate with him, undermining her previously favorable standing in Europe as an ally of the former U.S. president. Their ties had once been notably warm, with Trump publicly praising Meloni as “a great leader” and “a fantastic woman” who had “really taken Europe by storm.” The relationship began to deteriorate earlier this year following disagreements over issues including Italy’s stance on U.S. military actions and comments about the Pope. A particularly sharp moment occurred after Meloni defended Pope Francis against Trump’s criticism related to U.S. bombing in Iran, a defense that Trump labeled as lacking courage.
The latest post builds on Trump's earlier claim that Meloni had “begged” him for a photo at the recent G7 summit in France, which Meloni firmly denied, stating neither she nor Italy ever begged. She also criticized Trump for being more lenient toward the “enemies of the West,” expressing regret that he did not adopt the same severity with adversaries of the United States.
Meloni’s office declined to comment on the post, and government ministers chose to remain silent on the matter. However, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto emphasized that strong ties with allies endure despite changes in leadership, stating that relationships are “permanent, even if people come and go.”
Italian political figures from across the spectrum condemned Trump’s attack. Elly Schlein, leader of the opposition Democratic Party, called the remarks “absolutely unacceptable” and urged national unity against external insults, emphasizing that Italians must not tolerate disparagement from foreign leaders regardless of political differences.
The media reaction in Italy reflected a similar tone of frustration. The pro-Meloni daily Il Messaggero devoted front-page editorials decrying the escalation of the dispute, urging intervention to halt what it described as a “spiral of madness.” One piece notably compared Trump to the fictional villain Joker, suggesting he himself was in need of a restraining order.
The dispute comes amid increased attention on Italy’s defense spending, a key demand from Trump and the U.S. administration at the NATO summit. Italy announced last year that it had raised military expenditure from about 1.5 percent to 2 percent of GDP, though critics noted this figure included reallocated existing costs such as military pensions. Trump is expected to press NATO allies, including Italy, over their commitments to defense budgets during the summit discussions.
The increasingly acrimonious exchange marks a significant cooling of relations that had begun with Meloni as the only European leader to attend Trump’s inauguration in early 2025. As Italian public opinion turns increasingly critical of Trump—blaming his trade policies and Middle East rhetoric for rising living costs—the ongoing tensions highlight both personal and political rifts at a critical moment for Italy’s international standing.