Trump and Italy’s Meloni Avoid Eye Contact at NATO Summit

A public diplomatic rift between U.S. President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was on display during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on July 8. Videos from the event's official family photo session appeared to show the two leaders pointedly avoiding eye contact, marking the latest chapter in a weeks-long dispute that has strained a once-close political alliance.

The tension stems from an incident at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, last month. Trump claimed that Meloni had "begged" him repeatedly for a photograph. In response, Meloni released a video statement on June 19, declaring, "Italy and I never beg." She questioned why the U.S. president would behave that way toward an ally, adding it was unfortunate he did not show the same determination toward the West's enemies. In a retaliatory move, she ordered Italy's Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, to cancel a planned June 21 trip to the White House.

The feud escalated in the days leading up to the NATO summit. On July 6, Trump posted an altered image on his Truth Social platform based on authentic G7 footage, which changed Meloni's expression to appear captivated by him. The post was...