Italian Media Brands Trump a Complete Fool in Brutal Assault Following Meloni's Denial

An Italian daily newspaper, Libero Quotidiano, unleashed a brutal attack on President Donald Trump, slapping him with the label "coglione," which translates to "idiot" in English.

The publication stated, "I hate to say it, but I can’t find, and perhaps there isn’t, another way to say it: Donald Trump is an idiot."

This tirade follows Trump's outrageous assertion that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had "begged" him for a photograph during the recent Group of Seven summit in France. Trump claimed, "She begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her."

Meloni shot back at Trump's comments in a video posted on X, stating, "Donald Trump’s statements are completely fabricated. I’m frankly shocked. I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way towards his own allies, and it’s not the first time it’s happened."

She added, "It’s a shame he doesn’t have the same determination with the enemies of the West, with the enemies of the United States, with leaderships with which he instead appears much more accommodating. But you must remember one thing: Italy and I never beg."

Libero Quotidiano's scathing piece questioned why Trump would suggest "such an absurdity" regarding Meloni's alleged request for a selfie. The outlet remarked that the answer lies in the definition of "coglione," describing it as an inept, stupid person who acts with little intelligence.

Trump doubled down on his claims about Meloni on Truth Social, stating, "Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked, over and over, for a picture with me during the G-7 meeting in France." He continued to criticize her popularity in Italy, attributing it to her refusal to align with U.S. interests regarding Iran.

He raged, "She wouldn’t even let us use Italy’s landing strips or runways, a great logistical inconvenience, and this despite the fact the U.S. contributes hundreds of billions of dollars a year to protect Italy and other 'so-called' NATO Allies." Trump concluded with disdain for Meloni's attempts to rekindle their relationship for political gain.

Footage from the G7 summit showed Trump and Meloni engaged in conversation while seated together on a compact sofa.

In response to Trump's remarks, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced on X that he canceled his upcoming trip to the U.S., stating, "The serious and offensive words of President Trump towards Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy. For this reason, I have decided to cancel my visit to the United States scheduled for the next 21 and 22 June."

Once considered one of Trump's strongest political allies in Europe, Meloni attended his inauguration in January 2025. However, their alliance has since soured.

Trump previously praised Meloni as "a very successful politician" and "beautiful" during a summit in Egypt. Their relationship has deteriorated following Italy's refusal to support U.S. actions in Iran and Trump's controversial remarks about Pope Leo.

Meloni stated, "The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and it is right and normal for him to call for peace and to condemn every form of war."