Trump softens his tone towards Meloni: our relationship is very good, I have always liked her

Before departing for Alabama, President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters, said his relationship with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni “is very good.”

“I have always liked her,” Trump replied to a reporter’s question about his past attacks on the prime minister. The US president then praised Europe for agreeing to release considerable quantities of its oil reserves.

“It was extraordinary,” he said, also confirming that he would not impose a ban on oil exports, declaring that such a measure “has never been considered.”

Disagreements between Trump and Meloni had escalated in recent months, particularly over the war in Iran and Italy’s role in the Strait of Hormuz. The US president had accused the Italian prime minister of not supporting the American position enough. In June, Trump had also attacked Meloni personally, criticising her behaviour at the G7 and calling her a fan who wanted a photo with him. The prime minister denied the accusations, but tried to avoid fallout in relations between Rome and Washington.