Trump says he is 'shocked' by Meloni in public rebuke over Iran, Hormuz
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
RIYADH/ROME, April 14 - U.S. President Donald Trump said he was "shocked" by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and had expected her to show more courage, in a sharp public rebuke over her stance on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, according to an interview published on Tuesday by Italy's Corriere della Sera.
Trump's comments marked a dramatic shift in tone toward one of his closest European allies after Meloni criticised his decision to go to war with Iran and denounced his weekend remarks about Pope Leo as unacceptable.
In the interview, Trump accused Meloni of refusing to help efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blocked, and suggested Italy wanted the United States to shoulder the burden alone.
"I'm shocked by her. I thought she had courage. I was wrong," Trump was quoted as saying.
Asked about Meloni's criticism of his remarks on Pope Leo, Trump responded by accusing her of failing to take seriously the threat posed by Iran and its nuclear ambitions.
The White House and Meloni's office did not immediately comment. The dispute comes as the war has pushed up energy prices in Italy, which is heavily dependent on oil and gas imports.