L'abbraccio avvelenato di Trump: anche Meloni prende le distanze

On 14 April 2026, President Trump criticised Italy's Meloni in a row that followed his attack on Pope Leo. Trump said he was 'shocked' by Meloni, that she lacked 'courage' and 'doesn't want to help us in the war' with Iran, and that she was 'no longer the same person'. He told Corriere della Sera he had been wrong about her and attacked the Pope again. Meloni had reiterated her condemnation of Trump's attack on the Pope and said she did not know how many leaders had spoken like her about Trump.

Tajani said Meloni says what she thinks and will always defend Italy, and Italy vowed to defend its national interests. Schlein voiced solidarity with Meloni and said backing Pope Leo was a duty. Meloni also said Italy would suspend its defence pact with Israel 'in light of the current situation'. The dispute unfolded amid tensions over the Pope and NATO.