Comments made by President Donald Trump about Giorgia Meloni have ignited a dispute with the Italian prime minister. The exchange of remarks focuses on their popularity among voters.
On Saturday, Trump claimed Meloni was “doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity.” Meloni responded firmly, noting that being a “friend” to Trump hasn’t helped her domestic standing. She suggested Trump should focus on his own popularity.
Understanding the Dispute
Meloni has been one of Trump’s steadfast allies in Europe, maintaining a close relationship. Recent tensions emerged due to differing views on the Iran conflict. Meloni criticized the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran for their treatment of civilian casualties and supported Pope Leo XIV during U.S. disputes with the Vatican.
This feud intensified during the G7 Summit in France. Trump claimed Meloni “begged” for a photo together, which Meloni refuted, calling the allegations “completely unfounded.” In response to Trump’s Truth Social claims about her popularity, Meloni insisted that her relationship with Trump doesn’t impact her popularity in Italy.
Comparing Popularity Polls
Both leaders face scrutiny over their voter standings. A YouGov survey revealed Trump has an unfavorable rating with 58.1 percent of registered voters, and a net rating of -17.5. Meanwhile, Meloni’s favorability in Italy stands at -17, but she has a higher rating than leaders like Britain’s Keir Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron.
In terms of approval ratings, Meloni is at 44 percent, surpassing Trump’s 36 percent according to Ipsos and other polls. Statista highlighted similar disapproval rates for both Trump and Meloni.
Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party leads parliamentary voting intentions at 28 percent. While recent polls post-feud aren’t available, Italian media seems to support Meloni, evident from Libero’s pointed headline against Trump.