Diplomatic crisis: Trump attacked Maloney, Italy responds

A sharp diplomatic confrontation broke out between the United States and Italy, following President Donald Trump’s remarks against Prime Minister Giorgio Maloney. In an interview with an Italian TV channel, held on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, Trump claimed that she “begged” to be photographed with her. “She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn’t take a picture with her, but I felt sorry for her,” he said. His words provoked sharp reactions in Italy and exacerbated the tensions between the countries.

Maloney rejected Trump’s words and called them “complete fabrication”. She said that she was “shocked” by the statements and added that she did not understand “why the president of the United States behaves like this towards his allies”. According to her, “this is not the first time this has happened”, and expressed disappointment that the verbal attacks are directed towards friendly countries of the United States.

Maloney later attacked Trump’s conduct in the international arena, saying that he does not show the same determination towards the enemies of the West and the United States, but shows “much more concession and compromise” towards them. She concluded her words with a direct message to the American president: “There is one thing he must remember: me and Italy – we never beg.”

The confrontation comes after months of deteriorating relations between Trump and Maloney, who was once considered one of his closest allies in Europe. The two even held a clarification meeting this week on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, but Trump’s words reignited the diplomatic crisis.

Trump’s words provoked a series of reactions in the Italian political system. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that he is canceling his official visit to Washington planned for next week, and said of the American President’s remarks: “His serious and offensive words towards the Prime Minister hurt all of Italy”

Maloney’s deputy and leader of the “League” party, Matteo Salvini, also came to her defense. According to him, “Whoever attacks George Maloney attacks all of us.”