The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has resumed his criticism of the Italian government this Sunday and, in particular, of Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, whom he holds responsible for "not being there to defend us" due to Italy's refusal to authorize the use of its air bases by Washington to attack Iran.
"For decades we have defended them, but when they have been put to the test, they have not been there to defend us or the rest of the world. It is not right!", Trump stated in a message disseminated on social media.
The US leader lamented that, despite the "billions of dollars" invested in NATO, Italy "did not even consider getting involved with the Islamic Republic of Iran and its very serious nuclear threat."
Last Friday, Trump claimed that his former ally "begged" him for a photo together during the G7 summit in Évian, France, statements to which Meloni replied that neither Italy nor she "beg."
Trump also criticized that she "did not even allow the United States to use its runways" during the conflict, "which caused a great logistical inconvenience," and pointed out that now the prime minister wants to mend the bilateral relationship because her level of domestic support is low.
Meloni responded that "my popularity does not concern him." "I suggest he focus on his own," she replied, before demanding that Trump put an end to these "constant and gratuitous attacks" because "they make no sense."
The head of the Italian Executive wanted to put an end to this "spectacle" with her latest response. "I will not return to the topic, because I continue to believe in Western unity and I do not believe this is a spectacle worthy of our task," she concluded.