Italy Rejects Trump Social Media Feud Ahead of NATO Summit in Turkey

Italy said it will no longer respond to provocative social media comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, choosing instead to avoid public disputes as NATO leaders gather for a summit in Ankara, Turkey.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in an interview with La Stampa on Tuesday that Rome has decided not to engage with Trump's online remarks, describing the U.S. president as someone who frequently seeks attention through provocative posts.

"Trump speaks for himself," Tajani said, adding that Italy remains committed to maintaining strong ties with the United States despite recent tensions. "We have decided to stop responding to these remarks so as not to fuel disputes among our allies," he said, reaffirming that the U.S. remains Italy's strategic partner and a key ally for Europe.

The latest exchange follows a series of public disagreements between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Last month, Meloni accused Trump of inventing a story after he claimed during an interview with an Italian television channel that she had "begged" him to take a photo with him during the G7 summit in France.

As both leaders prepared to attend the NATO summit on Tuesday and Wednesday, Trump reignited the controversy by posting a photo of Meloni on Truth Social with the caption, "RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED."

The incident marks another chapter in the evolving relationship between the two leaders. Meloni had previously been one of Trump's strongest European supporters and was the only European leader to attend his 2025 inauguration. However, relations have cooled in recent months.

Earlier this year, Meloni criticized Trump for attacking Pope Leo after the pontiff condemned the Iran conflict. Trump responded by accusing the Italian prime minister of lacking courage, further straining their political relationship.

Italian newspaper Il Foglio also mocked Trump's latest post, publishing a front-page image of Trump alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin under the same caption, "RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED," highlighting the growing political and media attention surrounding the dispute ahead of the NATO summit.