During the G7 meeting in Évian‑les‑Bains, U.S. former president Donald Trump told Italy’s La7 network that Italian premier Giorgia Meloni had pressed him for a photograph, saying he declined out of sympathy. The remark followed a June private discussion between the two leaders that Italian officials described as a brief diplomatic exchange, after which Meloni told reporters the encounter was friendly and free of tension. Their relationship, once among the closest between Washington and a European government, has soured since Italy’s March refusal to allow U.S. aircraft to use the Sigonella base and Trump’s April criticism of the Pope, both of which prompted public disagreements. The latest comment highlights a growing strain in U.S.–Italy ties at a time when both sides are navigating trade and security issues.