Italy's Meloni breaks with Trump over war in Iran, pope
DW.com • • nation
Key Points:
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni publicly defended Pope Leo XIV after Donald Trump criticized the pontiff's stance on the US-Israeli war against Iran, marking a significant break in her relationship with the former US president.
- Meloni condemned Trump's comments as "unacceptable," emphasizing the pope's role in calling for peace, which aligns with the predominantly Catholic Italian electorate's views.
- The rift with Trump may be a strategic move by Meloni to distance herself from an increasingly unpopular figure in Italy, where 80% hold unfavorable opinions of Trump amid rising energy prices linked to the Iran conflict.
- Italy's energy crisis, exacerbated by the Iran war and disruptions in Gulf gas supplies, has fueled public discontent among Meloni's conservative base, pressuring her to reconsider her political alliances.
- Analysts suggest Meloni is shifting away from far-right alliances with Trump and may seek closer ties with Europe's center-right leaders, especially after the defeat of Trump-backed Viktor Orban in Hungary and Meloni's own domestic political setbacks.
