Meloni's Own Ally Rebukes Trump, Signaling Italy Values Domestic Standing Over Washington Ties

Undersecretary Giovanbattista Fazzolari, a close Meloni ally, publicly criticized Trump for making "the United States unpopular throughout Europe" through inappropriate remarks. The rebuke from inside Meloni's political circle carries weight: it signals the government calculates that absorbing the humiliation costs less than staying silent. Meloni has historically maintained closer working ties with Trump than most European leaders, making this fracture a measure of how far the damage extends.