Trump doubles down on his criticism of Meloni amid diplomatic rift between Rome and Washington.Donald Trump has launched a second broadside against Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni in as many days, declaring that the United States no longer holds the same relationship with her after Italy declined to support American military operations against Iran.The remarks have sent shockwaves through Italy's ruling coalition and drawn sharp rebukes from within Meloni's own government which has positioned itself as Trump's close ally. The latest attack Speaking to Fox News presenter Maria Bartiromo on Mornings with Maria, Trump said he no longer has the same rapport with Meloni, adding that she has been "negative". "Anyone that has turned us down for helping us with this Iran situation - we do not have the same relationship", Trump said. He also made a pointed economic argument, noting that Italy receives "large quantities of oil" via the Strait of Hormuz. Corriere interview and Pope Leo The Fox News remarks came a day after Trump gave a harshly-worded interview to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera in which he said he was "shocked" by Meloni, in relation to Iran, saying he had mistakenly thought she was had courage. This followed Trump's scathing attack social media attack against Pope Leo who he accused of being "terrible" and "weak", inflaming public opinion in Italy and prompting Meloni to declare his remarks "unacceptable". The US president compounded the controversy by publishing an image of himself in the style of Jesus Christ curing the sick - a gesture that drew condemnation across Italy's political spectrum - before he deleted it. Political reaction in Italy Trump's attack on Meloni sparked widespread solidarity for the premier from the Italian opposition, notably from the centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) leader Elly Schlein who commended Meloni for defending the pope and said: "We will not accept attacks or threats against the government or our country." Senate president Ignazio La Russa on Tuesday stated that anyone who thought Italy's prime minister could ever consider attacks on the pope acceptable simply did not know Italy, its premier, or understand the significance of the relationship between Italy and the papacy, news agency ANSA reports. Deputy premier and Lega leader Matteo Salvini also distanced himself from Trump, declaring that attacking the pope and Meloni was "to be condemned." He also expressed hope that the dispute with Meloni would prove to be a closed chapter, claiming that no government had been more attentive to the Italy-United States relationship than the current one. Asked by newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano whether he still trusted Trump, Salvini was evasive at first, before adding that appearing on social media in the guise of Christ was unlikely to enhance anyone's credibility or advance world peace. Salvini also cast doubt on Trump's claims that the Iran conflict had effectively ended, remarking that, as far as Trump was concerned, the Iran war had already been over many times. Wider context The rupture marks a striking reversal for Meloni, who had cultivated one of Europe's closest relationships with Trump since his return to office and had been widely regarded as Washington's most reliable European ally. Italy's refusal to back US military action against Iran, as well as Rome's decision to suspend the automatic renewal of a defence memorandum with Israel, has clearly tested that relationship although it remains to be seen whether the rift proves temporary or signals a longer-term cooling between Rome and Washington. Photo credit: UkrPictures / Shutterstock.com

Donald Trump has launched a second broadside against Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni in as many days, declaring that the United States no longer holds the same relationship with her after Italy declined to support American military operations against Iran. The remarks have sent shockwaves through Italy's ruling coalition and drawn sharp rebukes from within Meloni's own government which has positioned itself as Trump's close ally. Speaking to Fox News presenter Maria Bartiromo on Mornings with Maria, Trump said he no longer has the same rapport with Meloni, adding that she has been "negative". "Anyone that has turned us down for helping us with this Iran situation - we do not have the same relationship", Trump said. He also made a pointed economic argument, noting that Italy receives "large quantities of oil" via the Strait of Hormuz. The Fox News remarks came a day after Trump gave a harshly-worded interview to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera in which he said , in relation to Iran, saying he had mistakenly thought she was had courage. This followed Trump's  who he accused of being "terrible" and "weak", inflaming public opinion in Italy and prompting . The US president compounded the controversy by publishing an image of himself in the style of Jesus Christ curing the sick - a gesture that drew condemnation across Italy's political spectrum - before he deleted it. Trump's attack on Melonifor the premier from the Italian opposition, notably from the centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) leader Elly Schlein who commended Meloni for defending the pope and said: "We will not accept attacks or threats against the government or our country." Senate president Ignazio La Russa on Tuesday stated that anyone who thought Italy's prime minister could ever consider attacks on the pope acceptable simply did not know Italy, its premier, or understand the significance of the relationship between Italy and the papacy, news agency ANSA reports. Deputy premier and Lega leader Matteo Salvini also distanced himself from Trump, declaring that attacking the pope and Meloni was "to be condemned." He also expressed hope that the dispute with Meloni would prove to be a closed chapter, claiming that no government had been more attentive to the Italy-United States relationship than the current one. Asked by newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano whether he still trusted Trump, Salvini was evasive at first, before adding that appearing on social media in the guise of Christ was unlikely to enhance anyone's credibility or advance world peace. Salvini also cast doubt on Trump's claims that the Iran conflict had effectively ended, remarking that, as far as Trump was concerned, the Iran war had already been over many times. The rupture marks a striking reversal for Meloni, who had cultivated one of Europe's closest relationships with Trump since his return to office and had been widely regarded as Washington's most reliable European ally. Italy's refusal to back US military action against Iran, as well as Rome's decision to suspend the automatic renewal of a defence memorandum with Israel, has clearly tested that relationship although it remains to be seen whether the rift proves temporary or signals a longer-term cooling between Rome and Washington. Photo credit: UkrPictures / Shutterstock.com