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Trump publicly broke ties on Tuesday with Giorgia Meloni, the Italian Prime Minister and until now his main ally in Europe, during a brief six-minute phone interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, in which he described her as "unacceptable" and expressed that he was "shocked" by her.
The trigger was the defense that Meloni made of Pope Leo XIV, whom she labeled as "weak and misguided" for opposing the war against Iran.
Meloni responded from a wine fair in Verona, calling Trump's statements "unacceptable," which triggered a furious reply from the U.S. president.
Meloni, a practicing Catholic and leader of a country with a strong Catholic tradition and home to the Vatican, could not remain silent in the face of the attacks from Trump, who had attacked the pontiff on the Truth Social platform on Monday.
"I would not feel at ease in a society where religious leaders do what political leaders say. Not in this part of the world," declared the Italian Prime Minister.
"The unacceptable one is her, because she doesn't care if Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow Italy to pieces in two minutes if given the chance," Trump declared to the Italian newspaper.
The relationship between Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni, which for months was portrayed as one of the strongest alliances between Washington and Europe, has entered a phase of open rupture.
What until recently was ideological affinity and political cooperation has transformed into a public exchange of reproaches, highlighting a deep rift.
Trump held nothing back. “I thought I had courage, I was wrong,” he stated, visibly upset with the Italian leader.
And it went further: “He is no longer the same person, and Italy will not be the same country.”
Furthermore, he revealed that communication between them is practically broken: "We haven't spoken in a long time."
From allies to adversaries
For months, Meloni was regarded as Trump's preferred interlocutor in Europe. Her ideological closeness and her role as a bridge between Brussels and Washington granted her an unusual prominence within the European Union.
However, that balance began to crumble amidst the escalation of conflict in the Middle East.
Italy chose a cautious position: it avoided openly supporting the military actions of the United States and Israel against Iran and refused to become directly involved in strategic operations such as the protection of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump interpreted that stance as a betrayal.
"She believes that the United States should do the work for her," she reproached, accusing Rome of benefiting without taking on responsibilities.
The clash for the Pope
The crisis intensified following Meloni's defense of Pope Leo XIV, after Trump launched harsh criticisms against the pontiff for his calls for peace.
The reaction of the American president was immediate and aggressive.
Beyond the personal clash, the conflict reveals deep strategic differences. Trump harshly criticized Italy's lack of involvement in NATO and in the tensions with Iran.
"They do not want to help us with NATO, they do not want to help us get rid of nuclear weapons," he stated, insisting that Italy has distanced itself from American interests.
He also launched an attack on European energy policies: “Europe is destroying itself from within. They pay the highest energy costs in the world and are not even willing to fight for the Strait of Hormuz.”
According to the president, even his specific requests—such as sending minesweepers—were ignored: “I have asked to send everything they want, but they don’t want to because NATO is a paper tiger.”
The confrontation is not limited to a mere exchange of statements. It reflects the failure of Meloni's international strategy, which aimed to position Italy as the bridge between the United States and Europe.
That bet, which seemed to solidify over the months, has become unsustainable in a context of war and polarization. Italy's refusal to get involved militarily, the suspension of defense agreements with Israel, and the criticism of the military escalation have strained the relationship to the breaking point.
Trump, who does not tolerate middle ground, has made his verdict clear: "I am shocked by her."
The rift between Trump and Meloni not only redefines the bilateral relationship but also reconfigures the political landscape within the international right.
The Italian leader, who sought to lead a European conservative bloc aligned with Washington, now faces a paradox: being challenged by her main ideological reference point.
Meanwhile, Meloni's silence following the public attacks adds uncertainty regarding Rome's next steps.
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