Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni escalated her growing feud with President Donald Trump, calling his attacks “senseless” and saying her priority was to “defend Italy’s national interest.”

Meloni’s outrage over Trump claiming she “begged” him for a photo at the G7 Summit continued after Trump responded with a post on Truth Social, maintaining his grudge over Italy’s refusal to help with the war with Iran. Trump stood by his story that Meloni begged him for a photo at the summit, then tore into her popularity and mocked her for trying to “be friends again.” The prime minister responded in a long post on Instagram by claiming the president was launching “constant” attacks against her, which she said were “senseless.”