Greene says she ‘believes’ Italian PM Meloni: ‘Trump lies’

Administration Greene says she ‘believes’ Italian PM Meloni: ‘Trump lies’ Comments: by Sarah Davis - 06/19/26 11:14 AM ET Comments: Link copied by Sarah Davis - 06/19/26 11:14 AM ET Comments: Link copied

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Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a former close ally of President Trump’s, took the side of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday after the European leader strongly rejected Trump’s claim that she “begged” him for a photo this week.

“I believe @GiorgiaMeloni, she’s great!” Greene wrote on social media, adding, “Trump lies. Constantly.”

Greene’s statement was posted in response to a video clip shared by Meloni, in which the Italian leader accused Trump of fabricating a story about their interaction at the Group of Seven summit in France.

“There is one thing he must remember: Neither I nor Italy ever beg,” Meloni said in Italian.

The prime minister said she was “astounded” by the president’s comments.

“I do not know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his allies — it is certainly not the first time this has happened,” she said.

“I can only say it is regrettable that he does not show the same determination against the enemies of the West and the United States — against leaderships with whom he actually proves to be much more accommodating,” she continued.

In a brief interview published by Italy’s La7 TV channel, Trump said Meloni “wanted a picture with me so badly,” according to a translation.

“She’s probably happy I talked to her. I didn’t have to talk to her,” he reportedly said. “She begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her.”

Shortly before Meloni’s response was posted online, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that he was canceling a visit to the U.S. that was scheduled for next week.

“The serious and offensive words of President Trump towards Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy,” he wrote on social media. “For this reason, I have decided to cancel my visit to the United States scheduled for the next 21 and 22 June.”

The relationship between the U.S. and Italian leaders has soured during the Iran war, after Meloni raised concerns about a deadly strike on an Iranian school and defended the Vatican’s criticism of the conflict.

Greene’s formerly warm relationship with Trump has also curdled as the Georgia Republican increasingly criticizes the president over issues including the Epstein files and his involvement in foreign conflicts.

Last week, she scoffed at recent comments Trump made claiming he never said he would avoid new wars.

“After that interview came out and he’s on record claiming he never said that he wouldn’t go to war, no more foreign wars, you know, people rolled out video after video of him saying on the campaign trail, just like I heard him say personally so many times as I campaigned with him, where he said, ‘No more foreign wars, I will end war. I will bring world peace.’ He said that over and over again,” Greene said during an appearance on CNN’s “The Source.”