Analyst says Meloni's public clash with Trump is a strategic move to boost domestic support
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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's dispute with former U.S. President Donald Trump is viewed by a political analyst as a calculated effort to improve her standing ahead of the 2027 election.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's recent public disagreement with former U.S. President Donald Trump is being described by political scientists as a deliberate strategy to raise her profile at home. Mattia Diletti, a political science lecturer at Sapienza University of Rome, told Fox News Digital that Meloni likely calculated that a row with Trump would have no tangible diplomatic costs while enhancing her domestic and international image. Giovanni Orsina of Luiss University added that the confrontation could provide a "positive image" and a "silver lining" for Meloni, who is facing declining approval ratings ahead of Italy's 2027 general election.
The tension escalated after Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelled a planned visit to Washington on June 19, and after Trump claimed on his social platform that Meloni had begged him for a photograph at the G7 summit. Meloni responded with a video posted on X, stating she was "frankly stunned" by Trump's behavior and emphasizing that neither she nor Italy ever begged. Trump later posted on Truth Social that the dispute was linked to Meloni's popularity, accusing her of turning down U.S. requests related to Iran and suggesting she was seeking friendship to improve her numbers.
The exchange marks a shift from earlier cooperation, when Meloni attended Trump’s 2025 Mar-a-Lago visit and was the only EU leader at his second inauguration. Analysts note that confronting a president who is unpopular in Europe may allow Meloni to rally domestic support and demonstrate European solidarity as the next Italian election approaches.