0:00
Italy's Maloney says Trump made up a story that she begged him for a photo at G7
0:06
Italy's Prime Minister Jordan Maloney has said she's astonished after President Donald Trump told Italian TV she begged him for a picture with her
0:14
These comments, quite obviously, have provoked an open row between the two leaders
0:19
Let's discuss this with Peter Conradi, European editor of the Sunday Times
0:24
Hi, Peter. Thanks for joining me. Hi, good afternoon. I mean, this seems like a lighthearted bit of badinage, but what was really going on here
0:33
Yes, well, it all centers on the summit, which just took place in Evian in France
0:40
And as you said, Trump gave, in fact, he gave an interview to Italian TV yesterday saying that Maloney had begged him to pose for a photograph
0:50
Now, Maloney is just as adept and obsessed with social media as Trump is
0:54
And so a few hours later, yesterday evening, she released a message saying, no, I didn't
1:02
You know, you've kind of made this up. Trump then overnight, as is his want, because Friday night seems to be tweet night or social, sorry, truth social night from Trump
1:14
He then hit back, claiming that, you know, her popularity was flagging and that she just really needed to, she needed the picture for him
1:25
Now, it appeared to go all quiet. I was getting a bit disappointed. Then, about half an hour ago, Maloney, back on social media, writing in English, just to make sure that the message goes through
1:37
saying, President Trump, these continuous and free attacks are meaningless. Spend on to say, being your friend's done nothing for my popularity
1:47
And then signed off saying in any case my popularity is none of your business I suggest you focus on yours Cool Gosh So what going on behind it Basically ideologically the two are very very close
2:02
You know, they're both on the right. They feel, you know, agree on certain things
2:07
They disagree, however, on Trump's war against Iran, basically because Maloney knows that it's
2:13
hugely unpopular with Italians as it is with most Europeans. She blocked Trump's access to
2:21
air bases on Italian territory for use in the attack. He got cross about that. She also defended
2:29
Pope, who Italian leaders have to defend, when Trump attacked him over the war again
2:36
cue an earlier spat in April, which went backwards and forwards. So, you know, now it's getting on for six o'clock in Italy
2:47
They're just wondering when Trump's going to counter, counter, counterattack. And what do you, I mean, you're the seasoned Europe editor
2:56
of the Sunday Times. What do you see going on? Is this some kind of veiled flirtation or barely veiled
3:03
Is this kind of like, you know, Gilbert Blythe taking Anna Green Gable's pigtails
3:08
and sticking them in the inkwell? Is that what this is? Or is it something else
3:12
And what is it, a diplomatic incident? Is it like the rape of the lock? I mean, what is going on here
3:16
How seriously do we have to take this? And what could it result in? Goodness me, I'm just sort of working my way through those similes or metaphors
3:23
What's it like? I mean, it's basically two leaders, I suppose, who are, you know
3:28
for whom, you know, who've got strong personalities, whose popularity is based very much on who
3:37
they are and on their image One could perhaps draw a contrast with the current leaders should we say of certain countries in Europe or slightly off the coast of Europe We get why you want to be Europe editor It makes a lot of sense More colourful more flamboyant more fun isn it Fun fun fun Indeed And so therefore you know
3:56
unlike, you know, one can imagine if this were Sir Keir Starmer and this, you know, Trump said
4:02
this is about him, he would sort of be closeted with aid saying, oh, how can we kind of calm this
4:07
town how can we calm this down but maloney by contrast sees an opportunity in it she sees that
4:13
you know it's popular sticking one to trump as it were and so you know what is there to lose really
4:19
i like the bit where she said where she said i did not beg you for a photograph italians do not
4:24
beg for anything i really like that i thought that was fabulous uh thank you very much indeed
4:30
for joining us such a pleasure to have you on the program hope we do so again peter con ready there
4:33
Europe editor of the Sunday Times. Let's speak to Gina Abercrombie-Win Stanley
4:38
who is a former U.S. ambassador, Middle East yst, and distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council
4:42
Hello there. Thank you so much for joining us. I mean, do you see this as a light-hearted badinage
4:47
or do you see this as a potential for a kind of diplomatic incident
4:52
How seriously are we meant to take this? Thank you for having me. Pleasure
4:55
Well, it is a distraction from the other huge issues that the president has to deal with
5:04
And it could have an impact on some of the issues that the EU and the United States are dealing with
5:14
And if it did, what would the impact be? Well, first of all, we have Ukraine and we have the demands by the U.S. for the EU member states, NATO rather, to increase their spending
5:32
Ms Maloney has been kind of a bridge for NATO for the EU with being the whisperer for President Trump as his friend as they have both referred to themselves as And so she cannot be a bridge anymore if they having this kind of
5:53
dispute. And we know the president has a very tender ego. So what I think she's right about is
6:02
why, other than his personality, would he even put this insult out there? It is unnecessary
6:10
it certainly is undiplomatic, and doesn't forward the very valued relationship that we have with
6:16
an EU country and a fellow member of NATO. Well said, Gina. I'm very pleased to have you on the
6:22
programme. And while we do, let me just run by you the latest bulletin on the Strait of Hormuz
6:28
which is that Iran has claimed it'll close the Strait of Hormuz to tankers, citing alleged violations of the ceasefire by the US and Israel
6:36
Just your response to that as we have the pleasure of having you on the show. Sure. Well, the Iranians are correct
6:42
It certainly says very specifically that fighting stops on all fronts. It does appear that the Israelis were the first to break the ceasefire
6:53
as they did with the first Gaza ceasefire. But the prime minister has an election coming up
6:59
He needs to appear to be strong. I'm certain he is very envious of Ms Maloney's repartee with the president because he can't afford to do that
7:08
The prime minister of Israel cannot afford to do that. And the United States now has to decide, are they going to adhere to this MOU that the president signed
7:18
and put additional pressure or additional carrots in front of Israel to get them to comply
7:25
Or did it fall apart? So there we are. Thank you very much indeed
7:30
That's Gina Abercrombie-Win Stanley, their former U.S. ambassador
