Trump deepens the dustup with Italy's Meloni over disputed G7 photo

Key Points:

• President Donald Trump accused Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of repeatedly asking for a photo with him at the recent G7 summit, a claim Meloni has denied as "completely fabricated."
• The dispute escalated tensions between the U.S. and Italy, leading to Italy’s foreign minister canceling a planned trip to the United States amid strong support for Meloni from her government.
• Trump criticized Italy's lack of cooperation during the Iran conflict, specifically accusing Meloni of denying U.S. forces access to Italian runways despite America's significant defense contributions to NATO.
• The remarks came after Trump’s interview with an Italian broadcaster, where he raised the photo request and Italy’s stance on Iran, despite the original question being about Ukraine.
• Trump suggested Meloni’s declining popularity in Italy might be linked to her stance on U.S. requests related to Iran, emphasizing the U.S.’s role in protecting Italy and NATO’s shared interests.