by InTrieste
Italian political leaders weighed in Friday on the dramatic confrontation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, an extraordinary exchange that laid bare deepening divisions within the Western alliance.
During the highly publicized Oval Office meeting, Trump chastised Zelensky for not showing enough gratitude for American military aid, warning him against “gambling with World War Three.” The tensions escalated further when U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance accused the Ukrainian leader of being “disrespectful” and demanded that he “say thank you.” The meeting ended abruptly when Zelensky was asked to leave the White House.
Calls for Unity Amid Divisions
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy party, sought to present herself as a stabilizing force amid the diplomatic turmoil. “Any division of the West makes us all weaker and benefits those who would like to see the decline of our civilization,” she said in a statement issued by her office. “An immediate summit needs to be held between the United States, European states, and allies to speak frankly about how we intend to address today’s major challenges, starting with Ukraine, which we have defended together these past years.”
Meloni, who has worked to maintain a close relationship with Trump while also supporting Ukraine, now faces the challenge of navigating this latest crisis without alienating either Washington or Kyiv.
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, an outspoken Trump supporter and leader of the far-right League party, took a different approach, sharing a clip of the White House clash on social media with the caption: “The goal is PEACE, enough with this war! Go Donald Trump.”
Foreign Minister and Deputy Premier Antonio Tajani struck a more cautious tone, calling for restraint. “It is a moment of great tension, for this reason, we must keep our nerves, react very calmly, and see what will evolve after this meeting, which certainly did not go well,” Tajani told Radio Uno. “Europe must be united and speak with one voice. This is a delicate step, and we must be very cautious.”
Opposition Leaders Condemn Trump’s Actions
Italian opposition figures were quick to denounce Trump’s treatment of Zelensky and to challenge Meloni’s response.
Elly Schlein, leader of the center-left Democratic Party (PD), stood firmly behind Zelensky and condemned the Italian prime minister for what she described as a failure to take a decisive stance. “Meloni can no longer procrastinate,” Schlein said. “She must choose between Trump, his billions, and his economic interests or democracy and Europe.”
Schlein went further in her critique of Trump, accusing him of siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Trump humiliated, with unprecedented violence, a people attacked by a dictator in an ambush that is pure institutional bullying against President Zelensky,” she said.
Former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, leader of the populist Five Star Movement (M5S), also expressed concern over the fallout from the confrontation. “The clash that took place at the White House in front of the cameras should have been absolutely avoided—it risks giving Putin an advantage in the complex negotiation that has been started,” Conte said.
Calling for a stronger European role in peace talks, he added, “Europe must be at the forefront of negotiations, not subordinate to Washington. Meloni, meanwhile, has disappeared without a trace.”
Carlo Calenda, leader of the centrist Azione party, was particularly scathing in his remarks, posting on X: “Bullies who attack in the Oval Office, in front of the press, a courageous leader who leads a people defending their freedom from the aggression of a murderous dictator. This is what the U.S. has been reduced to today.”
Calenda subsequently called for demonstrations in cities across Italy on Sunday to express solidarity with Zelensky and to push for a stronger European stance in support of Ukraine.
A Diplomatic Crossroads
The White House confrontation comes at a crucial moment for Meloni, who has walked a fine line between maintaining good relations with Trump and upholding Italy’s commitments to Ukraine and NATO. With divisions emerging both within her government and across Europe, the coming days may prove pivotal in determining Italy’s role in shaping the Western response to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
