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Has Trump’s talk‑show style diplomacy reached its limit? The question now turns to the shifts in relationships that have unfolded between Rome and Washington. Key issues include trade, Ukraine, Greenland, Israel, Lebanon, and the ongoing conflict in Iran. The recent dispute over whether Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni requested a selfie from President Trump at the G‑Seven summit has amplified a broader divide between the two capitals.
Some observers argue that Trump’s approach—characterized by brief, phone‑call updates—parallels the manner in which former NATO Secretary‑General Alexander De Simone, during an Oval Office briefing, claimed Italy had allowed “500 US planes” to operate from its bases as part of Operation Epic Fury. Whether Meloni genuinely refused to support the campaign against Iran, or simply shielded her country’s strategic interests, remains under debate. Her recent steps to mend ties with Francophone neighbors—including a recent welcome from President Emmanuel Macron at a bilateral summit in Antibes—signal a pivot toward a more pro‑EU stance. The timing could be strategic in light of the upcoming 2027 elections in both France and Italy, as the European far‑right seeks to recalibrate its position in a shifting geopolitical landscape.
