Donald Trump’s G7 remarks trigger diplomatic tensions with Italy and South Korea

During the European Council meeting in Brussels, U.S. President Donald Trump said Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni “was desperate to take a photo with me” and mocked her willingness to pose. Meloni called the comments fabricated and denounced them as an insult to the Italian nation. In response, Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani announced the cancellation of his planned visit to Washington, describing Trump’s remarks as “serious and insulting” to all Italians.

At the same G7 summit, South Korea’s president met Trump and raised the issue of North Korean denuclearisation. He urged a staged approach, to which Trump replied, “That could be one method, I’ll think about it.” The two leaders discussed the challenges of a phased disarmament and the broader impact of sanctions and regional security.

Both episodes highlight heightened diplomatic friction involving the United States, Italy and South Korea at the G7 gathering.