Meloni denies Trump's claim she begged for photo at G7

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has rejected President Donald Trump's claim that she "begged" him for a photo at the G7 summit. Trump said during a rally that Meloni had asked for the picture and that he felt sorry for her. Meloni responded by saying the story was "totally invented" and that she was "astonished" by the remark.

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani subsequently canceled a planned trip to Washington. The incident has caused diplomatic friction between Italy and the US, with Meloni publicly accusing Trump of lying. The dispute centers on a brief interaction at the summit, which both sides now describe very differently.