Donald Trump publicly rebuked Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday, saying he was “shocked” by her conduct and accusing her of lacking courage amid growing tensions over the Gulf war and relations with Iran.
In an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Trump criticised Meloni for distancing herself from Washington following his decision to launch military action against Iran earlier this year.
“I’m shocked by her. I thought she had courage. I was wrong,” Trump said, adding that Italy had failed to support U.S. efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which remains partially blocked.
The remarks mark a sharp reversal in relations between the two leaders, who until recently maintained close ties, with Meloni attending Trump’s 2025 inauguration and previously receiving praise from the U.S. president.
Tensions escalated after Meloni criticised Trump for his verbal attack on Pope Leo XIV, calling his comments “unacceptable.” Trump responded by questioning her leadership and accusing her of failing to confront the threat posed by Iran.
“She does not care whether Iran has a nuclear weapon,” he said, warning that such a development would pose a direct risk to Italy.
Italy’s political establishment quickly rallied behind Meloni. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani defended her stance, stressing that Italy remained committed to its alliance with the United States but that such partnerships must be based on “respect and mutual frankness.”
“On Pope Leo, she said exactly what all Italians think,” Tajani said in a statement.
Meloni has increasingly sought to distance Rome from the escalating conflict in the Gulf, amid domestic pressure and rising energy costs. Last month, she refused to allow U.S. warplanes to use a Sicilian airbase for operations against Iran and on Tuesday moved to suspend a military cooperation agreement with Israel.
Trump criticised those decisions, saying Italy — heavily reliant on imported energy — should be more proactive in securing shipping routes.
“They pay the highest energy costs and are not even ready to fight for the Strait of Hormuz,” he said. “They depend on Donald Trump to keep it open.”
The dispute comes at a politically fragile moment for Meloni, who recently lost a referendum on judicial reforms and is facing mounting pressure at home as the war drives up costs and fuels public opposition across Europe.