The relationship between Italy and the United States is no longer the same. This was said by Donald Trump himself who, after yesterday’s attack on the prime minister, returned to the topic in an interview with Fox News. When asked if there was the old bond between the two leaders, the President of the United States responded clearly. “No, no. She (Meloni, ed.) was not cooperative. Whoever refused to give us a hand in this situation with Iran no longer has the same relationship with us” Trump warned, adding that “Italy receives a lot of oil from the Strait”.
“Why do we spend hundreds of billions of dollars on NATO if they aren’t on our side?” the head of the White House asked himself, speaking in general about allies. “If they’re not with us on Iran, they won’t be with us on much bigger issues.”
NEW: President Trump says the US does not have “the same relationship” with any nation who turned down assisting America in the Iran conflict and the Strait of Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/fG8gXxxAkz
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 15, 2026
Also on Fox News, Trump described as “very sad” the European plan, previewed by the Wall Street Journal, to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without the involvement of the United States. “The Strait of Hormuz is already reopening, there are ships entering and leaving,” he underlined. “But how can you stay with a group of countries with this attitude? Look at Greenland: we needed it to protect the world from Russia and China.”
“I thought Meloni had courage, I’m shocked”
Yesterday Trump had launched a heavy attack against his former “friend” Meloni (as he had defined her just a few weeks ago). “I’m shocked by her. I thought she had courage, I was wrong.” Reached by telephone by Corriere della Sera, the head of the White House confessed that he had not heard from the Italian prime minister for “a long time”. The reason? “He simply says Italy doesn’t want to get involved. He thinks America should do the work for it.”
Meloni, Trump added, “does not want to help us with NATO, he does not want to help us get rid of nuclear weapons. AND very different from what I thought.” The prime minister has not yet responded.