Trump published a photo of Meloni with a 'request for a restraining order', Italy: 'PM will no longer respond to him'
The NATO summit in Turkey will bring together today the US president with the one who until recently was called 'the Trump-whisperer of Europe', but recently became a target of his attacks and anger: 'I…
Assessment
This diplomatic spat between the U.S. and Italy has escalated from personal jabs to an open display of strategic restraint. By publishing a doctored photo with a restraining order joke, the American president turned a routine NATO summit encounter into a test of Italy's composure. Italian officials now signal they will absorb provocations without retaliation, betting that institutional ties between nations outlast any single leader's behavior. The question left hanging is how long such restraint holds when provoked again.