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Donald Trump renews criticism of Giorgia Meloni, escalating tensions with Italy
via Business News2 min read
Donald Trump reignited his dispute with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on June 20, 2026, reiterating accusations on Truth Social. Trump claimed Meloni "again and again" requested a photo with him at the G7 summit in Évian, France, and suggested her popularity is declining because she "turned her back on the United States" by not supporting its policy against Iran's nuclear ambitions. He also stated Italy denied the U.S. use of its landing strips, calling it a "great logistical inconvenience" despite Washington's spending to protect NATO allies. Trump further alleged that after a U.S. military victory against Iran, Meloni now seeks to reconcile with him, which he rejected. This follows Meloni's Friday statements on Italian channel La7, where she called Trump's previous remarks "totally invented" and expressed astonishment at his behavior toward an ally. She noted it wasn't the first time he acted this way and that he is "much more conciliatory" toward Western adversaries, concluding that "neither I nor Italy ever beg anyone." The controversy led Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani to cancel his June 21-22 trip to the United States, with several government members supporting Meloni.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Business News.
BreakingIran announced on Saturday, June 20, 2026, the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for deadly Israeli attacks in Lebanon. This action was described by the Iranian army's central command as a "first measure in response to the enemy's violation of commitments," with threats of "other measures" if necessary. Despite this, discussions aimed at a definitive agreement to end the Middle East conflict are set to begin in Switzerland on Sunday. The US Central Command Centcom stated that its forces remain vigilant and that 55 merchant ships safely transited the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. Iran had previously closed this waterway at the start of the war, which led to a surge in oil prices and shortages, as it handles approximately 20% of global hydrocarbons. Reopening the Strait was a key point in the Iranian-American memorandum of understanding signed on Wednesday, which also stipulated an end to hostilities across all theaters, including Lebanon. However, despite this agreement and a new ceasefire announcement on Friday, Israel and Hezbollah have been clashing for two days in southern Lebanon. Israeli operations resulted in at least 24 deaths on Saturday and 83 the day before. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported 4,057 deaths since Israeli attacks began on March 2. Israel claims to be targeting Hezbollah positions in response to attacks on its troops, with the Israeli army reporting "more than 50 projectiles" fired by Hezbollah against its soldiers overnight
During the appeal hearing for Saadia Mosbah and other Mnemty association leaders on Friday, June 19, 2026, Deputy Thabet El Abed attended for nearly three hours and subsequently stated his belief that the case primarily involves accounting, tax, and administrative issues, not matters warranting years of imprisonment. El Abed, a member of the Assembly of People's Representatives, shared his observations after listening to the proceedings, which focused on Mnemty's activities, foreign funding, administrative authorizations, bank accounts, projects, and tax obligations. Saadia Mosbah explained that the association's funding came from the European Union and known international organizations, transiting through official banking channels. She also addressed a question about the absence of funding from Arab or Maghreb countries, stating that anti-racism efforts generally receive little interest and funding in the Arab region. Mosbah indicated that Mnemty received approximately 300,000 dinars over ten years, averaging about 2,500 dinars per month. Regarding illegal enrichment allegations, she stated she does not own a home and is still repaying her vehicle, suggesting her financial situation does not reflect accumulated wealth. While not defending the accused or challenging the judiciary, El Abed concluded that the core debate concerned accounting, fiscal, and administrative matters. He added that while such irregularities might incur legal responsibility, they do not justify severe
Must ReadOn Friday, June 19, 2026, Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed met with Salma Malika Haddadi, Vice-President of the African Union Commission, at Carthage Palace. President Saïed congratulated Algeria on Haddadi's election, calling it a diplomatic success. During their discussion, President Saïed outlined his vision for Africa's future, emphasizing the need to develop African Union structures to strengthen cooperation among member states. He called for "new approaches" and "new concepts" to replace outdated notions, asserting that human thought is undergoing profound evolution. President Saïed reaffirmed Tunisia's commitment to the founding principles of the Organization of African Unity and the African Union. He believes that despite conflicts and the exploitation of resources, the dream of unity persists among African peoples. He stated that a united and constant will can transform dreams into reality, enabling Africans to shape a new future for the continent and humanity. President Saïed highlighted the paradox of resource-rich African nations suffering from civil wars, poverty, and disease, a situation he believes cannot continue. He reiterated Tunisia's stance that "Africa must be for Africans" and stressed the importance of dismantling irregular migration networks involved in human trafficking. Concluding, President Saïed discussed Africa's global role, stating that after centuries of being victims, African peoples must now build a different future based on "new thinking" that