President Donald Trump intensified tensions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over the weekend, renewing criticisms related to a photo request at the recent Group of Seven summit and Italy’s stance on military cooperation amid the conflict in Iran.

Trump aired his grievances in a social media post Saturday while retreating at Camp David, asserting that Meloni requested a photo with him "over and over" during the G7 meeting in France. He initially misspelled her first name but later corrected it. The former president also accused Meloni of declining U.S. requests to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons—a point he said contributed to her declining popularity in Italy. Trump extended this critique to NATO, suggesting the alliance fell short in similar efforts.

Meloni promptly rebutted the claims, describing them as "completely fabricated" and dismissing Trump’s assertions as "constant, unprovoked attacks." In a statement posted on Instagram, she said her popularity is tied to defending Italy’s national interests rather than her relationship with Trump, advising him to focus on his own standing instead.

The dispute traces back to an interview Trump gave Friday to Italy’s La7 network, in which he raised the subject unsolicited during a discussion on Ukraine. According to the broadcaster, Trump said he was under no obligation to pose for the photo but expressed sympathy for Meloni’s repeated requests. No original English audio was released by La7, only a dubbed version.

Central to the diplomatic friction is Italy’s refusal to allow U.S. use of its airbases during the war in Iran. Italy’s government, led by Meloni, declined in March to grant access to the Sigonella base in Sicily for American bombers en route to the Middle East without parliamentary approval, citing constitutional requirements and domestic opposition to the conflict. Meloni has emphasized that offensive military operations from Italian territories require legislative consent.

Trump’s criticism echoed longstanding concerns he has voiced about NATO allies’ defense contributions and cooperation, including in meetings with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and in anticipation of the upcoming NATO summit in Turkey.

Despite the sharp rhetoric, Trump claimed on Saturday that Meloni "wants to be friends again" following the tentative U.S.-Iran deal aimed at ending hostilities, signaling a desire to reset the strained relationship. Meanwhile, the French G7 summit episode and Italy’s foreign minister’s cancelled visit to the United States underscore the broader diplomatic chill between the two allies.