Trump Slams Italy's Meloni, Calls for Restraining Order Over 'Stalker' Claims

President Trump unleashed a meme attack on Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, branding her as obsessed and implying she requires a restraining order. This latest jab reignites their ongoing feud that flared up after the G7 summit in France.

On Sunday, Trump shared an image of Meloni gazing adoringly at him, captioned “Restraining order needed.” This comes on the heels of disparaging remarks he made during an interview with Italian broadcaster La7, where he claimed, “She’s probably happy I talked to her. She wanted a photo with me so much. I wouldn’t have even done it, but I felt sorry for her.”

Meloni shot back, expressing her shock at Trump's comments and labeling his account as “fabricated.” In a further escalation, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled a planned visit to the United States in protest.

“I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way towards his allies; after all, it’s not the first time it’s happened,” Meloni stated in a social media post. She added, “It’s a pity that he doesn’t show the same determination with the enemies of the West, with the enemies of the United States.”

Trump's animosity towards Meloni reportedly stems from Italy's refusal to allow American bombers to utilize the Sicily-based Naval Air Station Sigonella for operations targeting Iran.

In response, Meloni defended her position, asserting that Italy's military bases are “governed by agreements that we have always respected, and that cannot be violated as long as I am prime minister.”

The two leaders are set to encounter each other again at this week’s NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. Once seen as allies due to their shared hardline immigration stances, their relationship has soured significantly.

Meloni, who Trump previously referred to as a “beautiful young woman,” was notably the only European leader present at his inauguration in January of last year.