Trump calls Giorgia Meloni ‘unacceptable’ after she rejects his Pope Leo XIV remarks

Tensions between donald trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni escalated Tuesday after the US president publicly criticized one in every of his closest European allies, accusing her of missing “courage” and failing to assist Washington’s efforts towards Iran.

In a cellphone interview with Italian every day newspaper Corriere della SeraTrump referred to as Meloni “unacceptable” and stated he was “shocked” by her stance, in keeping with the outlet’s English-language model.

The dispute with Trump was additional fueled by Meloni’s criticism of his current remarks focusing on Pope Leo XIVwhich she referred to as “unacceptable,” prompting Trump to reply that “she is the one who is unacceptable.”

In a scathing response of the Vatican’s name for Middle Eastern de-escalation, President Trump took to Social Truth to blast Pope Leo XIV. Labeling the pontiff “WEAK on Crime” and “terrible for Foreign Policy,” Trump warned him to “focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician.” The put up, which rapidly went viral, accused the primary American pope of “catering to the Radical Left” on the expense of world safety.

MORE KEY US ALLIES BLOCK MILITARY FLIGHTS AS IRAN WAR RIFT WIDENS WITH TRUMP

In the interview to Corriere della Sera Trump additionally reiterated criticism of Pope Leo, saying the pontiff “has no idea what’s going on in Iran” and “doesn’t understand” what’s at stake.

She “isn’t giving us any help, I’m shocked by her,” Trump stated about Meloni within the six-minute dialog.

He went additional, accusing Meloni of counting on Washington whereas refusing to behave.

“They depend on Donald Trump to keep it open,” he stated, referring to world vitality routes by the Strait of Hormuz.

The feedback mark a pointy shift in tone toward Meloniwho attended Trump’s 2025 inauguration and was praised by him as “a great leader” simply weeks in the past.

The White House and Meloni’s workplace didn’t instantly reply.

The public rift comes as Meloni has begun distancing herself from each Washington and Jerusalem amid mounting home and political stress over the widening Middle East battle.

RUBIO SAYS US MAY NEED TO ‘REEXAMINE’ NATO MEMBERSHIP AFTER ALLIES BLOCKED BASING, AIRSPACE HELP

President Donald Trump delivers remarks, as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer applaud, following the signing of the primary part of the Gaza ceasefire settlement between Israel and Hamas, in Egypt, Oct. 13, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

On Tuesday, Meloni confirmed in a press release that Italy had suspended the automated renewal of a long-standing protection cooperation settlement with Israel, signaling a major recalibration in ties.

“In gentle of the present scenario, the federal government has determined to droop the automated renewal of the defense agreement with Israel,” she stated, in keeping with Reuters.

The transfer follows current tensions between Rome and Jerusalem, together with Israeli warning pictures fired close to Italian troops serving in southern Lebanon underneath a UN mandate, in addition to rising Italian criticism of Israeli army operations within the area.

Israel downplayed the influence of the choice, saying the settlement was largely symbolic and “has never contained any substantive content,” Reuters reported.

In Israel, opposition chief Yair Lapid sharply criticized the federal government following Italy’s transfer.

“Italy’s decision to suspend the defense cooperation agreement with Israel is another embarrassing failure of the prime minister and the non-existent foreign minister,” Lapid wrote on X.

TRUMP SAYS HE’S CONSIDERING PULLING US OUT OF NATO OVER IRAN WAR STANCE

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is welcomed upon arrival on the White House South Portico in Washington, DC, on Aug. 18, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/AFP by way of Getty Images)

“Meloni is not a left-wing progressive European leader,” she added. “She belongs to the conservative right and understands the need to fight terrorism.”

Meloni’s shift displays what analysts describe as a broader political repositioningbecause the conflict’s financial fallout, notably rising vitality prices, weighs closely on Italy’s import-dependent financial system and public opinion.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani defended Meloni, reaffirming Italy’s alliance with the United States whereas emphasizing that cooperation should be grounded in “loyalty, respect and mutual frankness.”

The escalating tensions spotlight rising fractures inside Western alliances because the US-led confrontation with Iran reverberates throughout Europe, forcing leaders like Meloni to steadiness strategic partnerships with home political realities.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

A ship passes by the Strait of Hormuz throughout a two-week momentary ceasefire between the United States and Iran on April 8, 2026. (Shady Alassar/Anadolu/Getty Images)

The Israel Defense Ministry declined to remark.

Reuters contributed to this report.