They were allies not long ago, but now the U.S. president is “disappointed”
U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for refusing to assist Americans in their operation against Iran.
As reported by RBK-Ukraine, the American leader made this statement in an interview with Corriere della Sera.
Read also: Meloni criticized Trump for “unacceptable” comments about the Pope
In a phone conversation with the Italian publication, Trump asked whether Italians liked the fact that Prime Minister Meloni “is not providing any help” to the U.S. regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
“Do people like that? I can’t imagine. I’m shocked by her. I thought she had courage, I was wrong,” he said.
The president added that he did not discuss his dissatisfaction directly with Meloni.
“She just says that Italy does not want to be involved. Although Italy gets its oil from there, and America is very important to Italy. She doesn’t think Italy should be involved. She believes America should do the work for her,” Trump stated.
Trump also responded to Meloni’s defense of the Pope. Earlier, she called Trump’s remarks about the pontiff “unacceptable.”
“She is unacceptable because she doesn’t care if Iran has nuclear weapons, and it would blow up Italy in two minutes if it had the chance,” Trump added.
In his opinion, Meloni “is no longer the same person, and Italy will not be the same country; immigration is killing Italy and all of Europe.”
Meloni and Trump
It is worth noting that Meloni has often been referred to as one of Trump’s key allies in Europe. The leaders maintained quite good relations.
In particular, according to Politico, back in January, she discouraged EU leaders from confronting Trump amid his demands for the U.S. to take control of Greenland.
At the end of March, media reports emerged that Italy had closed its airspace to American planes heading to attack Iran.
