Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hit back at US President Donald Trump after he suggested she was attempting to boost her domestic political standing by improving relations with Washington, telling the US leader to focus on his own popularity instead. Describing his attacks as “unprovoked and senseless”, he said his popularity depended on “his ability to defend Italy’s national interests”.He said, “President Trump, these persistent, unprovoked attacks are absurd. As far as my popularity, being your friend certainly doesn’t help, nor does it depend on my relationship with you. My popularity depends on my ability to defend Italy’s national interest, and that’s what I’ve always done.”He did the same regarding American military bases in Italy. Their use is governed by agreements we have always respected, and which cannot be violated as long as I am Prime Minister. Italy is a sovereign nation. In any case, my popularity is not your concern. I suggest you focus on your popularity,” he said, reacting to Trump’s claim that Italy did not let the US use its landing strips. After returning from the G7, Trump has repeatedly claimed that Meloni had “begged” for a selfie with him, but the Italian PM has rejected this claim.Repeating the claim on Saturday, Trump said, “Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked repeatedly for a picture with me during the G-7 meeting in France. She is doing poorly in Italy with her popularity levels, possibly because when it came to denying Iran from acquiring or developing nuclear weapons, she rejected the United States, a country that actually loves and protects Italy (but so does NATO in this case. Did!)”“She doesn’t even let us use Italy’s landing strips or runways, which is a huge logistical inconvenience, and this is despite the fact that the US contributes hundreds of billions of dollars a year to the defense of Italy and other ‘so-called’ NATO allies. Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, it wants to be friends again to increase its ‘numbers,'” he said.Meloni’s government, which comes to power in 2022, has recently seen its approval rating improve to around 35% after a gradual decline through 2025, while his Brothers of Italy party remains ahead in opinion polls with around 28% support. In contrast, Trump, who is sworn in as US president in January 2025, recorded a modest one-point increase in his approval rating in a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll to 36%, though it remains near the lowest of his political career despite easing public concerns over the cost of living.