US Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta said President Donald Trump’s recent criticism of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is not personal but is linked to his wider dissatisfaction with NATO and European countries’ contributions.
According to The Washington Post, Fertitta said Trump has “no personal beef” with Meloni, despite growing tensions between Washington and Rome. Trump and Meloni had previously maintained a strong relationship, but their ties have weakened over disagreements about NATO spending and Italy’s position on the war in Iran.
Tensions increased after Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV and accused Meloni of asking repeatedly for a photograph with him during the G7 summit in France.
Fertitta said Trump and Meloni had worked well together before Italy declined to support the US position on the Iran war. He said he had warned Italian officials that the disagreement was becoming unnecessarily serious.
The ambassador also described Trump as highly persistent in verbal disputes, advising politicians not to engage in prolonged public arguments with him. He said world leaders should learn how to manage their relationships with Trump, adding that his criticism can also be viewed as a sign that he considers someone important enough to engage with.
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