Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - Donald Trump has escalated his public feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by again claiming she asked “over and over” for a photo with him during the recent G7 summit. Meloni has denied the claim, calling it fabricated, as the row adds fresh strain to a relationship that was once seen as unusually close.

The dispute began after Trump told an Italian broadcaster that Meloni had “begged” for a picture, saying he agreed only because he “felt sorry” for her. Meloni hit back, saying the story was “completely fabricated” and insisting that she does not beg for photos or political favor. Trump then doubled down on social media, repeating that she had requested the picture repeatedly and turning the exchange into a broader attack on her standing and popularity.

The row has widened beyond the photo claim and is now tied to deeper disagreements over Iran and NATO-related issues. Trump has criticized Meloni for not backing his position on the Iran conflict, while Italian officials have pushed back by stressing that Italy is a sovereign nation and makes its own decisions. That has made the feud politically awkward ahead of the NATO summit, where both leaders are expected to be in the same diplomatic space despite the personal tension.

What started as a dispute over a photo has turned into a visible rupture between two leaders who were once described as allies. With NATO talks approaching, the clash underscores how quickly personal friction can spill into wider transatlantic politics.