08.07.2026 13:20
New footage from the NATO Leaders Summit in Ankara has brought renewed attention to tensions between Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni. While Meloni was seen turning her head away as Trump entered the area before the family photo, earlier claims that she allegedly "asked Erdoğan for a protocol arrangement to avoid being seated next to him" have also resurfaced for debate.
The 36th NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government, hosted by Turkey in Ankara, witnessed not only a critical security agenda but also a striking diplomatic traffic among leaders.
Previously, the ongoing "photo-taking" tension between US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had come to the fore. New images from the summit's family photo session showed the distance between the two leaders reflected from a different angle to the cameras.
TRUMP TURNED HIS HEAD AS HE APPROACHED
In images recorded before the family photo shoot, Meloni was seen turning her head away as Trump walked towards the protocol area. Trump continued his walk and took his place in the photo area.
The images brought the recently discussed tension between the two leaders back to the agenda.
TENSION BEGAN WITH A SOCIAL MEDIA POST
The diplomatic tension between the two leaders had emerged with a post by Trump targeting Meloni on his social media account before he departed for Turkey. Trump had used the phrase "A restraining order is necessary" for the Italian Prime Minister. Following this post, it became a matter of curiosity how the two leaders would meet at the Ankara summit.
CLAIM: "HE ASKED ERDOĞAN NOT TO BE PLACED SIDE BY SIDE"
Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper had put forward a striking claim. According to the report, in order to prevent possible tension in the event of a confrontation with Trump, Meloni asked the summit's host, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, not to be placed side by side with Trump in the protocol arrangement.
THEY MAINTAINED THEIR DISTANCE IN THE FAMILY PHOTO AS WELL
In the official family photo of the summit, it was also notable that Trump and Meloni were positioned at points far from each other. While Meloni was seen positioned close to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, the latest images revealed that there was no direct contact between the two leaders even before the family photo.