Meloni ‘begged’ for photo: Is Trump going too far in poking world leaders?

While United States President Donald Trump has long been known for his willingness to publicly criticise rivals and allies alike, the frequency of such episodes during his second presidency is now attracting attention across the globe.

Trade disputes, disagreements over military operations, tensions surrounding Iran and Nato, criticism of the Pope and even personal remarks about the spouses of foreign leaders have all become part of a pattern that has repeatedly strained relationships between Washington and some of its closest partners.

The Meloni dispute becomes the latest flashpoint

The newest diplomatic row emerged following the recent G7 summit held in Évian-les-Bains, France. During the gathering, Trump and Meloni were photographed sitting together and talking on a sofa.

Shortly after the summit concluded, Meloni described the atmosphere surrounding the meeting as positive. However, relations between the two leaders quickly deteriorated after Trump participated in an interview with Italian broadcaster La7.

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According to transcripts from that interview, Trump claimed that Meloni had desperately wanted a photograph with him during the summit. He suggested that she had "begged me for a picture" and indicated that he agreed only because he "felt sorry for her."

Trump also implied that Meloni should have been pleased simply because he had spoken with her, saying she was likely "happy that I talked to her, I didn't have to talk to her."

The comments triggered an immediate response from Rome. Meloni released a video on social media in which she categorically rejected Trump's version of events. She described his account as "completely fabricated" and "totally invented."

The Italian prime minister then delivered one of the strongest public criticisms of Trump from a major Western ally in recent months. "There is one thing he should remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg."

Her response went beyond the dispute over the photograph itself. Linking the controversy to broader concerns about Trump's behaviour toward allied nations, Meloni added, "I can only say that 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."

The disagreement quickly evolved into a diplomatic issue. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani denounced Trump's comments as "grave and offensive" and subsequently cancelled a planned official visit to the United States.

The clash was particularly notable because Meloni has often been viewed as one of the European leaders ideologically closest to Trump. Earlier in his second term, Trump had described her as an "excellent leader" and a "friend."

Yet tensions between the two had already been building.

Back in April, Meloni publicly criticised Trump's attacks on Pope Leo XIV, calling the president's remarks "unacceptable." Trump responded by expressing disappointment in her position and reportedly threatened to reconsider the American military presence in Italy.

Macron becomes a recurring target

French President Emmanuel Macron has also repeatedly found himself in Trump's crosshairs.

One of the most widely discussed incidents occurred after footage circulated online showing French First Lady Brigitte Macron appearing to push her husband during a public moment. Macron later described the interaction as harmless and playful.

Trump nevertheless used the episode as an opportunity to comment on the French president's personal life. He stated that Brigitte Macron treated her husband "extremely badly" and joked that Macron was "still recovering from the blow to his right jaw."

The remarks prompted a response from Paris. Macron said Trump's comments "weren’t elegant, and they weren’t up to par."

The French president's disagreements with Trump have extended well beyond personal matters. Earlier this year, Macron declined an invitation to participate in a peace initiative promoted by Trump. The US president reacted by dismissing the French leader's political standing.

"Nobody wants him because he’ll soon be out of office." Trump has repeatedly questioned Macron's judgement on international affairs. After leaving the G7 summit in Canada in June 2025, he criticised comments made by the French president regarding the purpose of his departure.

Trump wrote, "French President Emmanuel Macron, always seeking publicity, has wrongly claimed that I left the G7 summit in Canada to return to Washington and work on a ‘ceasefire’ between Israel and Iran. Wrong! He has no idea why I’m heading to Washington now, but it certainly has nothing to do with a ceasefire. It’s about something much bigger."

In the same message, Trump added, "Whether intentional or not, Emmanuel is always wrong. Stay tuned!"

At another point, Trump offered an unusual assessment of Macron's performance as a leader. "On a scale of 0 to 10, I’d say he deserves an 8. He’s not perfect, but that’s France. We don’t expect perfection." For his part, Macron has also appeared increasingly willing to criticise Trump directly.

Amid disagreements over the Iran conflict, the French president remarked that war was "not a show" and urged greater consistency in public messaging. "When you want to be serious, you don’t say every day the opposite of what you said the day before."

Britain's Starmer repeatedly clashes with Trump

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has similarly become the focus of several public confrontations. One of the earliest major disputes centred on military operations involving Iran.

When Britain declined to authorise the use of its military facilities for initial American and Israeli strikes, Trump responded by invoking one of Britain's most celebrated wartime leaders.

He declared that Starmer "is no Winston Churchill." Weeks later, Trump escalated his criticism further. "We don’t want another Neville Chamberlain." The historical comparison was particularly striking because Chamberlain remains associated with the policy of appeasement toward Nazi Germany prior to the Second World War.

Trump's criticism of Britain has not been limited to security matters. He has threatened tariffs on British goods and reportedly floated the possibility of reviewing American recognition of the Falkland Islands as British territory.

Starmer has not remained silent. When Trump claimed that Nato troops serving in Afghanistan had largely avoided front-line combat, the British prime minister strongly objected.

He described the comments as "insulting and frankly appalling." The criticism carried particular weight because more than 1,000 NATO personnel died during the Afghanistan conflict.

By April, Starmer's frustration appeared increasingly visible. He argued that British consumers were experiencing volatile energy prices "because of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world."

Discussing Trump's rhetoric regarding Iran, Starmer added, "I’m fed up."

Germany, Spain and the growing Iran divide

The conflict involving Iran has become one of the biggest sources of disagreement between Washington and European capitals. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz openly questioned the effectiveness of American diplomacy during the crisis.

Following unsuccessful negotiations, Merz remarked, "And then letting the Americans travel to Islamabad, only to send them back without any results."

He added, "An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards."

Trump responded angrily. Posting online, he accused the German leader of misunderstanding the situation and declared, "He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!"

Merz was not the only European leader to express concern. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of the military campaign.

He characterised the conflict as "reckless and illegal" and stated that Spain would "not be complicit in something that is bad for the world … simply out of fear of reprisals from someone."

Even after a ceasefire was reached, Sánchez remained critical of the broader approach. "The Government of Spain will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket."

Canada becomes a frequent target

Relations with Canada have also been marked by repeated verbal disputes. Shortly after returning to office, Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports, triggering a new trade conflict between the neighbouring countries.

At one point, Trump referred to then-prime minister Justin Trudeau as, "Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada." The remark echoed Trump's repeated suggestion that Canada should become part of the United States.

Following Trudeau's departure from office and Mark Carney's rise to power, Trump continued using similar language. He referred to Carney as "Governor Carney" and repeatedly discussed the idea of Canada becoming America's 51st state.

Trump also suggested that Canada's existence depended heavily on the United States. "I saw your Prime Minister yesterday. He didn’t seem very grateful; Canada should, in fact, be grateful to the United States. Canada exists thanks to the United States."

When Carney explored closer engagement with China, Trump criticised the move. "Prime Minister Carney wants to strike a deal with China, which will devour Canada alive. We’ll be left with nothing but the scraps!"

The friction reflected a continuation of tensions that predated Trump's second term.

Years earlier, Trump had publicly mocked Trudeau during tariff negotiations. Speaking about a conversation with the Canadian leader, Trump admitted, "I had no idea; I simply told him he was wrong."

On another occasion he complained, "It’s been very difficult to negotiate with Canada… they’re really spoilt"

Carney has emerged as one of the strongest advocates for reducing dependence on the United States. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, he criticised using "economic integration as weapons," "tariffs as leverage," and "supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited."

He argued that "the middle powers must act together because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu."

Pope Leo XIV enters the political crossfire

Perhaps the most unusual confrontation of Trump's second term has involved Pope Leo XIV. The first American pope has consistently spoken against war and urged restraint amid international conflicts.

Trump responded by attacking the pontiff's views. On social media, he labelled Pope Leo XIV "WEAK on Crime" and "terrible at foreign policy."

Later, he argued that the pope "puts many Catholics at risk" because "he thinks Iran might have nuclear weapons". The criticism generated backlash across parts of Europe and among Catholic communities.

The Pope's position, however, remained focused on peace and diplomacy. As he explained, "the Church’s mission is to proclaim the Gospel and to proclaim peace. If anyone wishes to criticise me for proclaiming the Gospel... I only hope to be heard for the sake of the word of God".

The dispute also contributed to the deterioration of Trump's relationship with Meloni, who publicly defended the pontiff.

From India to Japan and Israel

Other international partners have also experienced moments of friction with the White House.

In May 2025, Trump publicly claimed credit for helping secure a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. The Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly disputed the assertion.

The disagreement was followed by additional tensions involving shipping routes and American tariff threats aimed at Indian exports.

Japan found itself at the centre of controversy during a March 2026 Oval Office meeting with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Asked why allies had not been informed in advance about military operations against Iran, Trump said he wanted to preserve "the element of surprise."

He then added, "Who knows more about surprises than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me anything about Pearl Harbour?" The reference to the 1941 attack that killed more than 2,000 Americans generated significant attention due to its historical sensitivity.

Meanwhile, even Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly became the target of Trump's anger. Following military exchanges involving Israel and Iran, Trump allegedly lashed out during a phone conversation.

According to reports, he told Netanyahu, "You’re completely mad. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your arse. Now everyone hates you. Everyone hates Israel because of this."

He also reportedly shouted, "What the fuck are you doing?"

A pattern of confrontation

Taken individually, each episode represents a diplomatic disagreement or political dispute. Collectively, they reveal a broader pattern that has defined Trump's second term.

Whether addressing allies at the United Nations, criticising European leaders, challenging the Pope, questioning Canada's sovereignty, or publicly mocking foreign counterparts, Trump has frequently chosen language that departs from traditional diplomatic norms.

At the 2025 United Nations General Assembly, he told assembled leaders that "Your countries are going to hell."

He also dismissed climate change warnings as "the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world" and accused "stupid people" of promoting such concerns.

During the same appearance, he targeted London Mayor Sadiq Khan, describing him as a "terrible, terrible mayor" and falsely claiming London was moving toward "sharia law."

Khan responded by calling Trump's comments "appalling, bigoted, and Islamophobic."

The cumulative effect has been a growing willingness among allied leaders to challenge Washington publicly rather than quietly absorb criticism.

Meloni's response may be the most recent example, but it is far from the only one.

With inputs from agencies