![\"US](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2281267374-GI.JPG\" "\\"US")
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US President Donald Trump speaks with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during a work lunch as part of the G7 summit, in Evian, eastern France, on June 16, 2026.<\/p>\n
EVELYN HOCKSTEIN<\/p>\n
POOL\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n
A high-ranking Italian official has canceled his plans to attend a Miami conference promoting business between Italy and the United States, citing \u201cserious and offensive\u201d statements from President Donald Trump about the country\u2019s prime minister.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani was scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio<\/a> Monday at the Italy US Business, Investment, Science and Innovation Forum<\/a> in Coral Gables, with plans to discuss economic security and critical minerals.<\/p>\n Scheduled at The Biltmore Hotel, the event \u2014 which has now been canceled by Italy\u2019s Ministry of Foreign Affairs \u2014 was billed as a \u201cstrategic opportunity for Italian and American companies to establish and strengthen business relationships across key sectors\u201d in both countries.<\/p>\n The State Department announced the meeting between the two diplomats on Thursday.<\/p>\n But those plans were upended just hours later over an interaction between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during the G7 summit in France, and a subsequent interview the president gave to an Italian news outlet.<\/p>\n Italy\u2019s La7 reported Friday that Trump said Meloni<\/a> had \u201cbegged\u201d him for a photo during the summit, and that he only agreed because he felt \u201cpity\u201d for her.<\/p>\n The news station did not publish the original audio of the call, which was translated into Italian for viewers, including a voice-over for the president.<\/p>\n Meloni shot back at Trump shortly after the interview was broadcast, saying in a video posted to X, \u201cNeither I nor Italy ever beg.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump has not commented on the dust up.<\/p>\n Tajani was set to arrive in Miami on June 21 for the event. But, in a Friday morning post to X, he said he was canceling the trip to the United States.<\/p>\n Le gravi e offensive parole del Presidente Trump nei confronti del Presidente del Consiglio Giorgia Meloni offendono tutta l\u2019Italia. Per questo motivo ho deciso di annullare la mia visita negli Stati Uniti prevista per i prossimi 21 e 22 giugno.<\/p>\n \u2014 Antonio Tajani (@Antonio_Tajani) June 19, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n The Italian Trade Agency and the 300-member Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast organized the Biltmore event to bring together government and businesses both in Italy and the United States.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Forum was scheduled as part of the political framework of the Minister\u2019s visit,\u201d organizers wrote in a press release Friday afternoon announcing its cancellation. \u201cThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs will update businesses and trade associations on future bilateral economic partnership initiatives with the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n This story was originally published June 19, 2026 at 12:40 PM.<\/p>\n![\"U.S.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TrumpRubioG7Getty.png\" "\\"TrumpRubioG7Getty.png\\"")
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, speaks at a press conference during the G7 Leaders\u2019 Summit on June 17, 2026, in Evian, France. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stands to his right. Anna Moneymaker Getty Images <\/p>\n