Trump calls Meloni 'wonderful person' but says she 'made a mistake' on Iran

US President Donald Trump called Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni a "wonderful person" and left the door open to repairing their relationship, but publicly expressed displeasure over Italy's refusal to support the United States during the war against Iran.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday during a visit to Türkiye for the NATO summit, Trump said his relationship with Meloni had "gone a little bit bad because she refused to help us with respect to the Iran situation," according to Reuters.

"She refused to get involved with Iran, and so that soured our relationship a little bit," Trump said. "I like her. She's a wonderful person, but I think she made a mistake."

The remarks voiced frustration over Italy's limited support for the United States during the Iran conflict while leaving open the possibility of a rapprochement with Meloni.

In March, Italy declined to allow US military aircraft to land at an air base in Sicily before heading to the Middle East, citing the US government's failure to seek prior approval for use of the facility.

Meloni had once been considered a close ally of Trump, but their relationship soured sharply after Trump claimed at last month's G7 summit in France that Meloni had repeatedly "begged" to take a photo with him. Meloni denied the account and criticized Trump for fabricating the story.

Meloni had also criticized Trump for attacking Pope Leo XIV, who repeatedly condemned the war against Iran. Trump then hit back at Meloni, accusing Italy of refusing to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and tensions between the two countries continued to fester.

Trump was also asked Wednesday about a photo he had posted on social media Monday.

The image showed Meloni looking up at Trump, accompanied by the caption "needs a restraining order."

The post was widely interpreted as Trump rejecting Meloni's overtures, and it sparked fresh controversy ahead of the NATO talks in Ankara, Türkiye, which both leaders are attending.

The Italian government decided not to respond to the post.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told the daily La Stampa on Wednesday that "the US president is someone who likes to provoke and express himself on social media, and we have decided not to respond so as not to fuel the controversy." He added, "We are friends of the United States and will remain so."

Meloni's camp appeared largely unbothered.

One of Meloni's aides, speaking anonymously, told Reuters there was no chance the prime minister would snub Trump, and that Meloni — who knows how to handle situations like this — would greet him with a smile.