Why I Am Not "Stunned" Trump Would Fabricate a Story About Meloni

 

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is not putting up with President Trump's bullshit.

When Trump claimed that Meloni had "begged" Trump to have a picture taken with her, Meloni put out a video on X to publicly rebuke him in front of the whole world:

Donald Trump's statements are completely fabricated. I am frankly stunned. I don't know why the president of the United States behaves like this toward his own allies. After all, it is not the first time.

I can only say it's a shame he doesn't show the same resolve toward with the enemies of the West and toward the enemies of the United States - towards leaders with whom he, on the other hand, is much more accommodating. But there is one thing he should remember. Italy and I do not beg.

While I am pleased to see a world leader publicly take Trump to task for his boorish behavior, I am not at all stunned that he would fabricate a story.

Indeed, fabricating stories is Trump's stock and trade. Given his propensity towards lying, it is fair to presume that when Trump claims something it is invariably untrue.

When I learned about Meloni's rebuke of Trump, it made me think of when the Boy Scouts of America back in August 2017 publicly denied that their leadership had called Trump to thank him for "the greatest speech ever made to them". Indeed, Boy Scouts officials apologized to parents for Trump's speech because of its "political rhetoric."

If Donald Trump is willing to lie about the Boy Scouts, then why wouldn't he lie about the Italian Prime Minister?

What is stunning, however, is that Meloni would be the one to speak out against Trump with such force. After all, Meloni was arguably Trump's closest ally in Europe. However, Trump and Meloni have parted company in recent months over Iran and public criticism of Pope Leo. The pair appeared to have an amicable conversation during the G-7 Summit in France earlier this week but appearances, much like Trump's claims, are deceiving.

While Meloni's public admonition of Trump will put her high on his shit list, it will certainly help her standing with Italian voters who are scheduled to go to the polls next year.