US President Donald Trump, center, speaks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, left, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, right, at a working lunch with leaders of G7 and the Middle East, in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Source: AP)G7 Summit, which is supposed to bring nations closer and resolve issues, has now sparked a fresh geopolitical tension. What initially seemed like a friendly exchange at this year’s G7 summit has quickly turned into a war of words between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and US President Donald Trump, once seen as close political partners.The clash began after Trump, in a phone interview with Italy’s La7 TV channel, claimed that Meloni had begged him for a photograph during last week’s G7 gathering in Evian-les-Bains in France. “She begged me to take a photo with her,” Trump reportedly said, adding that the Italian leader was “probably happy” that he had spoken to her.Meloni responded within hours, issuing a video message posted on Instagram. “Some things need an immediate reply,” she said.“The claims made by Donald Trump are completely unfounded. Frankly, I’m shocked. I don’t understand why the president of the United States behave like this towards his allies,” Meloni said in a video in Italian. She was quoted by BBC as saying, “It’s not the first time this has happened after all. The only thing I can say is that it’s a pity that he doesn’t show the same determination with the enemies of the West and the United States, whose leaders he treats with far greater indulgence.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Giorgia Meloni (@giorgiameloni)//www.instagram.com/embed.jsIn a pointed message aimed directly at Trump, Meloni stated, “There is one thing he should remember: neither I nor Italy ever beg.”The dispute comes just days after the G7 summit, where Trump and Meloni appeared on good terms and the Italian leader said there had been no recriminations between them.According to BBC, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has cancelled a planned trip to the US next week.Story continues below this adThe White House has yet to publicly respond to Meloni’s comment on Trump’s phone interview.The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram