Italy cancels planned US visit after Trump's remarks on Meloni

WASHINGTON, United States — ROME — Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Friday he had canceled a planned trip to Washington following a diplomatic dispute with the United States triggered by President Donald Trump's remarks about Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. In a post on social media, Tajani said Trump's comments about Meloni had offended the entire country. Tajani had been scheduled to travel to the United States to attend the Italy-US Business, Investment, Science and Innovation Forum, set for June 21-22 in Miami. Italian officials said he had been removed from the program. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had also been expected to address the forum. The tensions stem from an interview Trump gave to Italian broadcaster La7 following the G7 summit, in which he said Meloni had "begged" him to pose for a photo with her. Meloni has since criticized the US president's treatment of allied leaders. No further details on possible rescheduling of the forum visit were immediately available.