(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 19 giu - The Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani said that he has decided to cancel a visit to the US scheduled for June 21 and 22, following US president Donald Trump's "serious and offensive" remarks about Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni.

In a telephone interview with the Italian broadcaster La 7 transmitted earlier today, Trump said that Meloni had "begged" him to take a picture with him at the recent G7 summit in France. "I wouldn't have taken it, but I felt sorry for her." Writing on the social media platform X, Tajani said that "President Trump's serious and offensive remarks directed at Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are an insult to all of Italy." In a message recorded on X, Meloni called Trump's declarations "totally made up. Honestly, I'm at a loss. I don't know why the president of the United States acts that way with his allies," she said.

Tajani had been scheduled to attend the Italy-US Business,.

Investment, Science and Innovation Forum in Miami, Florida.

(RADIOCOR) 19-06-26 13:18:22 (0295) 5 NNNN