U.S. President Donald Trump has ignited a diplomatic firestorm in Italy after launching a series of scathing attacks against Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Pope Leo XIV, testing the stability of the transatlantic alliance and Meloni’s domestic standing.
In a recent exchange with Corriere della Sera, President Trump expressed disbelief over the Italian Prime Minister’s current trajectory, stating that Giorgia Meloni “doesn’t wish to aid us in the war” and that he is “shocked” by her position. Trump further questioned the Prime Minister’s fortitude, remarking that he “thought she had courage” but concluded that he was mistaken.
The friction extends to the Vatican, where Trump labeled Pope Leo “terrible” and claimed the pontiff “has no idea of what is happening in Iran.”
Pope Leo responded with rare directness, asserting that he has “no fear” of the U.S. Administration. The Pope signaled his intent to continue speaking out in defense of migrants and criticizing the U.S. Military campaign in Iran.
The verbal onslaught has placed Prime Minister Meloni in a precarious position, forcing her to balance her long-standing alliance with the U.S. President against her Catholic faith and national interests. While she initially backed the Pope without naming Trump, Meloni eventually issued a rare criticism of the U.S. Leader, calling Trump’s remarks toward the Holy Father “unacceptable.”
The diplomatic rift has provided an opening for Meloni’s political opponents. Opposition leader Elly Schlein called for a “unanimous condemnation” of the attack on the Prime Minister and argued that defending the Pope is a “dutiful” necessity.
Similarly, the Five Star Movement (M5S) expressed solidarity with the office of the Presidency of the Council, though the group noted that they had been “prone to Trump” for four years.
The fallout is as well creating divisions within Italy’s right-wing coalition. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who previously associated himself with Trump, has been more explicit in his criticism of the U.S. President. This shift suggests a growing effort among Europe’s far-right to distance themselves from the “MAGA” orbit.
The situation underscores the electoral risks for Meloni; currently, 66% of the Italian population holds a negative view of the U.S. President, largely due to his aggressive foreign policy. The clash highlights the difficulty of maintaining a strategic partnership with a U.S. Administration that is increasingly at odds with both the Vatican and Italian public sentiment.
