'I Thought She Had Courage': Trump Slams Meloni Over Refusal To Join Iran War

Last Updated:April 14, 2026, 21:59 IST

Trump said Meloni’s position was “unacceptable” and warned that Iran could pose a serious threat to Italy.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on one of his closest European allies, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, criticising her refusal to support Washington in the ongoing war with Iran.

In an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Trump said, “I’m shocked at her. I thought she had courage, but I was wrong," in reference to Meloni’s stance on the war.

The US president also accused her of failing to back efforts against Iran, claiming she “doesn’t help us with NATO" and is unwilling to act against what he described as a nuclear threat.

Trump’s remarks came a day after Meloni called his criticism of Pope Leo XIV “unacceptable", following the pontiff’s repeated appeals for an end to the conflict in the Middle East.

Escalating his criticism, Trump said Meloni’s position was “unacceptable" and warned that Iran could pose a serious threat to Italy.

“She’s unacceptable because she doesn’t mind that Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow up Italy in two minutes if they had the chance," he said.

The US president also expressed frustration with Europe more broadly, describing NATO as a “paper tiger" and accusing European countries of failing to support efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed by Iran since the war started in late February.

Despite the criticism, Meloni’s allies were quick to defend her. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy remained committed to Western unity and its alliance with the United States, but stressed that such unity must be based on “mutual loyalty, respect, and honesty". He added that Meloni was a leader who speaks her mind and prioritises Italy’s national interests.

“We are and remain staunch supporters of Western unity and steadfast allies of the United States, but this unity is built on mutual loyalty, respect, and honesty," Tajani said on X.

Opposition figures also reacted strongly. Elly Schlein, leader of the centre-left Democratic Party, criticised Trump’s comments as a “serious lack of respect" and reiterated that Italy’s constitution rejects war.

“Our constitution is clear — Italy repudiates war," Schlein said in parliament.

(With inputs from AFP)

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