Trump's diplomacy of insult: from Pope Leo XIV to Meloni, a pattern of personal attacks
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly used personal insults against world leaders, from Pope Leo XIV to Italy's Giorgia Meloni, straining alliances and drawing sharp rebukes.
The latest clash: Meloni at the G7
The most recent episode in a long pattern came after the G7 summit in Evian. Trump told an Italian television programme that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni "mi ha implorato di fare una foto con lei... mi ha fatto pena" (she begged me for a photo... I felt sorry for her).
Le dichiarazioni di Donald Trump sono dichiarazioni totalmente inventate. Sono francamente allibita.
The exchange echoed an earlier attack on 14 April, when Trump said he was "shocked" by Meloni, adding: "I thought she had courage, I was wrong." That broadside followed Italy's refusal to authorise the use of the Sigonella air base for US military operations in Iran.
From France to the Vatican
The list of leaders targeted by Trump's barbs is long. On 2 April he mocked President Macron's personal life, claiming the French leader "è trattato estremamente male dalla moglie" (is treated extremely badly by his wife) and that he was still recovering from a punch to the jaw. Earlier, Trump had said "Emmanuel sbaglia sempre" (Emmanuel always gets it wrong).
Non voglio un Papa che pensi che sia giusto che l'Iran possieda un'arma nucleare.
On 13 April Trump turned on Pope Leo XIV, calling him "debole in materia di criminalità e pessimo in politica estera" (weak on crime and terrible at foreign policy) and accusing him of being soft on Iran's nuclear ambitions. The Vatican's criticism of the war against Iran had clearly rattled the White House.
The British and German fronts
Britain's Keir Starmer drew fire after refusing US bases for strikes on Iran. On 3 March Trump declared the prime minister "non è Winston Churchill" (is no Winston Churchill). By 6 April he had escalated, telling reporters: "We don't want another Neville Chamberlain."
Non c'è da stupirsi che la Germania stia andando così male, sia economicamente che sotto altri aspetti.
German chancellor Friedrich Merz was dismissed as incompetent on Middle East policy. Netanyahu, too, was called "completamente pazzo" (completely crazy) over operations in Lebanon, with Trump claiming only their friendship kept the Israeli leader out of jail.
- Trump tells reporters British PM Starmer is 'no Winston Churchill' after UK refuses bases for Iran strikes.
- Trump rates French President Macron '8 out of 10', adding 'it's France, we don't expect perfection.'
- Trump again says Starmer 'is not a Winston Churchill' in remarks to journalists.
- Trump jokes that Macron is still recovering from a punch to the jaw delivered by his wife Brigitte.
- Trump tells a private dinner that Brigitte treats Macron 'extremely badly' and Macron 'always gets it wrong.'
- Trump escalates against Starmer: 'We don't want another Neville Chamberlain.'
- Trump attacks Pope Leo XIV as 'weak on crime and terrible at foreign policy' over Iran stance.
- Trump says he is 'shocked' by Meloni: 'I thought she had courage, I was wrong.'
- Trump claims Meloni 'begged' him for a photo at the G7; Meloni calls the claim 'totally invented.'
A pattern of personal attacks
The insults are not isolated gaffes but a deliberate tool. From his 2016 campaign to his second term, Trump has replaced traditional diplomatic language with nicknames, direct hits and belittling remarks. Allies who refuse to fall in line, whether on defence spending or Iran, become targets. The strategy, analysts note, has turned "America First" into what one commentator called "America Alone."
