Trump turns on Meloni: I'm shocked by her. I thought she had courage, I was wrong

Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni lacks courage and has disappointed Washington, US President Donald Trump told an Italian newspaper, issuing a sharp public criticism of one of his closest European allies.

Meloni was a vocal supporter of Trump, but distanced herself from him after he went to war with Iran in February, and on Monday she openly criticized him for attacking Pope Leo, saying his verbal attack was "unacceptable."

Trump hit back in an interview with Corriere della Sera, saying Meloni was "very different from what he thought" and criticizing her for refusing to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blocked.

"I'm shocked by her. I thought she had courage. I was wrong," he was quoted as saying in the Italian-language text.

The White House declined to comment on the alleged statements. Meloni's office also declined to comment, but politicians of all stripes have come to her defense, including Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, leader of the Forza Italia coalition party, Reuters reports.

"We are and will remain sincere supporters of Western unity and staunch allies of the United States, but that unity is based on loyalty, respect and mutual openness," he said, praising Meloni for condemning Trump's attack on the pope.

"She said exactly what all of us Italian citizens think about Pope Leo XIV," he added in a post on X.

Trump's criticism is another blow to Meloni

Trump's criticism represents a dramatic change in tone towards Meloni, the only European leader to attend his inauguration in 2025 and whom he praised as a "great leader" just a month ago, Reuters reports.

On Tuesday, he accused her of failing to support US efforts to curb Iran's nuclear programme and ensure the flow of energy through the Gulf, saying he wanted America to "do the work for her".

Asked about her condemnation of his comments about Pope Leo, he said: "She is unacceptable, because she doesn't care if Iran has nuclear weapons and would blow up Italy in two minutes if he had the chance."

The criticism capped a tumultuous month for Meloni, who lost a key referendum on judicial reform in March and then had her political ally Viktor Orban ousted from power in Hungary.

The US-Israeli war in the Gulf threatens to disrupt the economy due to rising energy costs and is highly unpopular among Italians, bringing Meloni into direct conflict with Trump.

Seeking to distance itself from the conflict, last month it refused to allow US fighter jets to use a base in Sicily for combat operations against Iran, and today it suspended a military cooperation agreement with Israel.

Trump said rising energy prices should encourage Italy, which is heavily dependent on oil and gas imports, to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

"They pay the highest energy costs in the world, and they're not even willing to fight for the Strait of Hormuz... They're relying on Donald Trump to keep it open," Trump said.