New York Times: Behind the scenes split between Trump and Meloni

The close and special relationship between US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has reached a dead end, following sharp disagreements between the two sides over several bilateral and international issues.

The New York Times said that the marriage of political convenience between Trump and Meloni had collapsed amid public rows that included thorny issues, most notably Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV, the outbreak of war with Iran, and the shifting alliances within the European continent.

According to the US newspaper, Meloni – who was once considered the pragmatic bridge between the MAGA movement (Make America Great Again) and the traditional European establishment – ​​now finds herself far removed from President Trump, whom she used to openly admire.

The newspaper explains that the rift between the two reached its peak this week following President Trump’s scathing remarks about the Pope.

Although Meloni and Trump historically share conservative values, his criticism of the Pope was a red line for a leader of a country with an overwhelming Catholic majority.

Meloni’s response was firm and unusual in its diplomatic language, as she said: “I find President Trump’s statements about the Pope completely unacceptable”.

For his part, Trump didn’t remain silent, as in an interview with an Italian newspaper, he claimed he hadn’t spoken to Meloni in a long time and described her behavior as unacceptable.

The New York Times was confirmed when Trump declared on television that America and Italy “no longer have the same relationship”.

If the dispute over the Pope was the spark, the crisis had been brewing for some time because of the war on Iran, as tensions escalated when the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, without prior notification to Meloni, which was considered a close ally.

The New York Times pointed out that the lack of coordination led to a humiliating diplomatic embarrassment for Rome, as Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto was on vacation in the UAE when the war broke out, and he had to be evacuated urgently via military aircraft.

On the other hand, the war with Iran caused a massive surge in gas and electricity prices in Italy, directly damaging Meloni’s popular support.

Furthermore, Meloni recently lost a crucial referendum on judicial reform, a defeat analysts attribute to her declining popularity due to her association with Trump and the economic fallout from his foreign policies.

In a bold move to restore its sovereignty, Meloni announced that Italy won’t automatically renew its defense agreement with Israel, citing the status quo and her desire to keep her country out of a war in which Italy insists it’s not a party.

The New York Times highlighted a paradox in Meloni’s current position: she began her career in a neo-fascist movement and hosted former US presidential advisor Steve Bannon at its party conferences, but today she finds herself being pushed toward the mainstream in Europe because of Trump’s volatility.

Meloni was one of Trump’s biggest supporters, praising his foreign policy, but the relationship between the two sides began to cool as Trump pressured Italy to increase military spending and accept unfair tariffs.

On the European level, that gap widened with the loss of power in Hungary by her close ally Viktor Orban, leaving Meloni increasingly isolated on the far right.

Roberto D’Alimonte: Meloni initially saw Trump as a political asset that would give her leverage in mediating between Europe and Washington, but this asset has now turned into a toxic burden.

The New York Times commented on the collapse of the partnership between Trump and Meloni, saying that it represents a pivotal turning point in transatlantic relations between America and Europe.

Roberto D’Alimonte, a professor of political science at the University of Florence in Italy, believes that Meloni initially saw Trump as a political asset that would give her leverage in mediating between Europe and Washington, but this asset has now turned into a toxic burden”.

With the Italian elections approaching next year, Meloni appears to be turning to Brussels and the European establishment in search of the stability she no longer finds in the relationship with Washington, thus prioritizing political survival over personal loyalty.