Trump Calls Meloni 'Nice' But Blames Her on Iran
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- Trump called Italian PM Meloni a 'nice person' but blamed her for not helping with Iran, and shared a doctored image of her ahead of the NATO summit
- Trump said a 'restraining order was needed' regarding Meloni in a separate comment, escalating his public criticism of the Italian leader
- Belgium's defense minister publicly warned Trump to leave 'Queen Meloni' alone, defending a fellow NATO ally against the US president's attacks
Why it matters: Trump's public break with Meloni — once a Trump favorite — comes days before a NATO summit where allies are gathering to coordinate. His decision to share a doctored image of a sitting allied leader drew a direct rebuke from Belgium's defense minister, signaling visible strain in NATO unity at a sensitive moment for US-Iran diplomacy.
