Washington: US President Donald Trump has launched a sharp public rebuke against one of his closest European allies, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, accusing her of lacking courage and failing to support Washington in the ongoing war with Iran.

In a candid interview with Italy’s leading daily Corriere della Sera, Trump expressed shock at Meloni’s stance, stating, “I’m shocked at her. I thought she had courage, but I was wrong.” He added that Meloni “doesn’t want to help us in the war” and criticized her for not backing US efforts through NATO or in securing the Strait of Hormuz.

The remarks come shortly after Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV over the pontiff’s opposition to the conflict, with Meloni describing those comments as “unacceptable” and expressing full solidarity with the Pope. Trump appeared to link the two issues, turning his ire toward Meloni after her defense of the Pope and her reluctance to commit Italian forces or stronger support to the US-Israel operations against Iran.

Trump doubled down in comments to Fox News, describing Meloni as “negative” and warning that “anybody that turned us down to helping with this Iran situation, we do not have the same relationship.” He suggested Meloni was content to let America “do the work” while warning of the nuclear threat from Iran, claiming she “does not care if Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow up Italy in 2 minutes if she had the chance.”

The outburst marks a notable shift in tone toward Meloni, who had been viewed as one of Trump’s strongest European partners. She was the only major European leader to attend his 2025 inauguration, and the two had previously enjoyed warm bilateral meetings. Italian officials have responded by emphasizing that Rome will continue to defend Italy’s national interests.

The war with Iran has strained transatlantic relations, with several European leaders expressing caution about deeper military involvement. Trump’s comments have sparked debate in Italy and across Europe about the future of NATO cooperation and allied support in the Middle East conflict.

As of now, neither the White House nor the Italian government has issued an official joint statement addressing the rift, but the episode highlights growing tensions between Washington and some of its traditional allies amid the Iran conflict.

The US-Israel military actions against Iran have focused on disrupting nuclear capabilities and reopening key maritime routes like the Strait of Hormuz. Meloni’s government has maintained a more measured approach, prioritizing diplomatic and humanitarian concerns alongside limited support.