Relations between US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni show signs of improvement following a period of public disagreement, with Meloni stating they share "cordial relations" at the NATO Summit, a sentiment echoed by Trump who called her a "nice person" but reiterated disappointment over Italy's non-support in US military actions against Iran. This apparent de-escalation follows weeks of friction originating from Trump's claim that Meloni "begged" for a photograph, which she denied, leading to further public exchanges including a social media post by Trump suggesting a need for a "restraining order." Despite the personal dispute, Italy remains a crucial NATO ally for the United States, and Meloni emphasized that the strong bilateral relationship transcends individual leaders.

Relations between US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni show signs of improvement following a period of public disagreement, with Meloni stating they share "cordial relations" at the NATO Summit, a sentiment echoed by Trump who called her a "nice person" but reiterated disappointment over Italy's non-support in US military actions against Iran. This apparent de-escalation follows weeks of friction originating from Trump's claim that Meloni "begged" for a photograph, which she denied, leading to further public exchanges including a social media post by Trump suggesting a need for a "restraining order." Despite the personal dispute, Italy remains a crucial NATO ally for the United States, and Meloni emphasized that the strong bilateral relationship transcends individual leaders.

Relations between US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni show signs of improvement following a period of public disagreement, with Meloni stating they share "cordial relations" at the NATO Summit, a sentiment echoed by Trump who called her a "nice person" but reiterated disappointment over Italy's non-support in US military actions against Iran. This apparent de-escalation follows weeks of friction originating from Trump's claim that Meloni "begged" for a photograph, which she denied, leading to further public exchanges including a social media post by Trump suggesting a need for a "restraining order." Despite the personal dispute, Italy remains a crucial NATO ally for the United States, and Meloni emphasized that the strong bilateral relationship transcends individual leaders.

Relations between US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni appear to be on the mend after weeks of tensions triggered by Trump's remarks about the Italian leader.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Turkey on Tuesday, Meloni said she shares "cordial relations" with Trump, signalling a possible easing of the recent diplomatic strain.

Earlier in the day, Trump described Meloni as a "nice person" but reiterated his disappointment over Italy's refusal to support the US during its military campaign against Iran.

"I think she's a nice person; actually, we've had a good week. We had a bad relationship. It became a little bad because she refused to help us again," Trump said, according to CNN.

"I think she's a nice person, actually. But I think she made a mistake," he added.

The conciliatory remarks from both leaders come after weeks of friction sparked by Trump's claim that Meloni had "begged" him for a photograph during the G7 Summit in France.

Meloni strongly denied the allegation, prompting a diplomatic spat that culminated in the cancellation of a planned visit to the US by Italy's foreign minister.

Trump further fuelled the row on Sunday by posting a photograph of Meloni smiling at him on social media, accompanied by the caption: "RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED."

The public exchange marked a sharp deterioration in ties between the two leaders, who had previously maintained warm relations. Trump also criticised several NATO allies, including Italy, for refusing to support US military operations against Iran despite longstanding American security commitments.

Despite the recent tensions, Italy remains one of Washington's key NATO allies. Meloni has repeatedly stressed that the bilateral relationship between the two countries extends beyond the personalities of their respective leaders.