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Trump's claim that Meloni begged for a photo with him is flat-out fabricated, and Italy is right to push back hard. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled his planned U.S. visit over remarks that offend all of Italy, and Meloni made clear neither she nor Italy ever begs. Trump's pattern of humiliating allies while going soft on adversaries is exactly the kind of behavior that's eroding American credibility across Europe.
Meloni's outrage over a photo comment is a distraction from the real issue — she's pulling away from a key alliance at the worst possible moment. Trump was right to call her out for lacking courage, refusing to support Washington on Iran, while Italy depends on the U.S. to keep energy routes open. Canceling diplomatic visits over hurt feelings is exactly the kind of weak, politically driven move that makes Europe an unreliable partner.