'Restraining order needed': Trump escalates Meloni feud

Donald Trump has escalated his feud with Giorgia Meloni with a new goading social media post. 

The comment on his Truth Social platform reads "RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED" and is accompanied by an image that shows the Italian prime minister looking up at the US president.

Ms Meloni has called out the Mr Trump in recent weeks over his "senseless", "constant, unprovoked attacks" on her.

But Italy's PM has yet to respond to his latest post, which came with the pair expected to attend this week's NATO summit in Turkey.

An Italian minister has attempted to play down the row.

"I did not have any reaction [to the post], the fundamental thing is to maintain relations with ‌a key ally like the USA," defence minister Guido Crosetto told Italy's Sky TV. "People come and go but relationships remain."

But an opposition politician was less restrained. "Trump ⁠is a despicable, cheap bully," Carlo ​Calenda, the leader of the small Azione party, ​wrote on X, expressing his support for ​Meloni.

Ms Meloni was once a vocal supporter of Mr Trump ⁠and the only European leader to attend his inauguration in 2025.

However, she criticised him this year for ⁠lashing out at Pope Leo over ​his condemnation of the Iran conflict. That ​in turn prompted a blunt rebuke from the U.S. president, who accused her of lacking ‌courage.

Last month he also claimed that Ms Meloni had "begged" him for a picture during the G7 meeting in France last year.

"She begged me to take a picture with her", he told an Italian news channel. "She wanted a picture with me so ​badly. I wouldn't have taken it, but I felt sorry for her."

Ms Meloni had responded, in an Instagram post: "Donald Trump's statements are completely made up. I am frankly astonished. I don't ‌know why ⁠the president of the United States behaves like this towards his allies."

Mr Trump then said on Truth Social: "Italian Prime Minister Gigiorgia [sic] Meloni asked, over and over, for a picture with me during the G-7 meeting in France.

"She is doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity, possibly because she turned down the United States of America, a Country that truly loves and protects Italy, when it came to denying Iran from obtaining or developing a Nuclear Weapon (But so did NATO, for that matter!).

"She wouldn't even let us use Italy's landing strips or runways, a great logistical inconvenience, and this despite the fact the U.S. contributes hundreds of Billions of Dollars a year to protect Italy, and other "so-called" NATO Allies.

"Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her 'numbers up.' No thanks!!! President DJT."

But Ms Meloni hit back again last month saying the "constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless".

"As for my popularity, being your friend certainly has not helped it, nor does it depend on my relationship with you," she added.

"My popularity depends on my ability to defend Italy's national interest, and that is exactly what I have always done."

(c) Sky News 2026: 'Restraining order needed': Trump escalates Meloni feud