"He asked me to take a picture"/ Meloni responds to Trump's statements: Italy and I never pray

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said she is surprised after President Donald Trump, in an interview with Italian media, said she had "begged" for a photo together.

In a video post on social media, Meloni stated that his comments were completely "fabricated."

Their public clash shows how relations have deteriorated between the two leaders, who until this moment had a very close relationship.

Trump and Meloni were seen in close conversation at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains in eastern France this week, and Meloni later told reporters that their relationship was unchanged.

However, Trump has since given a telephone interview with Italian TV channel La7, in which he claimed: "She asked me to take a picture with her; I felt sorry for her."

Meloni said she was "honestly shocked" in a short speech to her seven million Instagram followers.

"I don't know why the American president behaves this way towards allies. This is not the first time it has happened. I can only say that it is a pity that he does not show the same determination towards the enemies of the West and towards the enemies of the US – [enemies] with whose leaders he seems to be much softer. But there is one thing he should remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg," she said.

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