Meloni Isn't Alone: List of Right-Wing European Leaders Trump Angered

A growing number of Europe's right-wing and populist leaders, many of whom once aligned closely with President Donald Trump, are increasingly distancing themselves from the White House, exposing fractures in what had been seen as a budding trans-Atlantic alliance.

Disputes over the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, threats to acquire Greenland, and the use of tariffs against European allies have driven an unusual wedge between Washington, D.C., and some of its ideologically closest partners abroad. Analysts say the shift reflects both substantive policy disagreements and mounting political risk for European leaders seen as too closely tied to Trump.

On Thursday, the tensions between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni escalated when he claimed she had begged for a photo with him at the G7 summit, which she denied, prompting the cancellation of a visit by Italy’s foreign minister to the United States.

“The break between Meloni and Trump had already taken place when Trump attacked the pope; she stood by [Pope] Leo, and he attacked her,” Nathalie Tocci, a professor of the practice at Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies, told Newsweek.

“She then tried naively to make up in Evian. It was indeed a rather desperate attempt given Trump’s nature and his evident disdain for Europeans. Now the break has become much harder, [maybe] impossible, to patch up.”

Newsweek reached out to the White House and the U.S. Department of State for comment.

What To Know

• European nationalist leaders have publicly criticized Trump over Iran, Greenland and trade policy
• Italy blocked U.S. use of a key air base for Middle East operations
• French and German populist parties have warned against U.S. "imperial" or interventionist moves
• Germany's chancellor has clashed directly with Trump, prompting troop withdrawal threats

Meloni's Break With Washington

Meloni, once viewed as Trump's most reliable European partner, has emerged as a leading example of the shift.

The prime minister, who attended Trump's 2025 inauguration and initially cast herself as a bridge between Washington and Brussels, has publicly broken with the administration over the war in Iran, saying "we do not agree" with the U.S. approach.

Her government has also denied the United States permission to use the Sigonella air base in Sicily for military operations linked to the conflict, a move widely interpreted as an effort to avoid deeper involvement.

The decision underscores the political pressures Meloni faces at home, where the war has proven unpopular, and energy price concerns have intensified.

“It’s not surprising,” Tocci said. “Far right nationalists eventually always end up clashing, by definition. Trump, a nationalist, attacked Meloni [and] she replied, piqued as a far-right nationalist too.”

“I imagine that from here on, Meloni will lie low and avoid humiliating herself again. The institutional relationship, much like the economic, societal, military, etc. relationship between Italy and the us will continue,” Tocci said. “But it’s now clear to all European leaders, and finally to Meloni too, that having a good political relationship with Trump is impossible.”

France's National Rally Signals Distance

In France, leaders of the far-right National Rally, which has long ideologically aligned with Trump's nationalist rhetoric, have also sharpened their criticism.

Party figure Marine Le Pen has described Trump's foreign policy goals around the Iran conflict as "erratic," while party president Jordan Bardella has warned against what he called a return to "imperial ambitions," citing U.S. actions in Greenland and Venezuela.

Trump's push to assert control over Greenland in particular has sparked backlash across Europe, including from right-wing parties that had previously embraced aspects of his agenda but now view territorial pressure on allies as politically untenable.

Privately, National Rally officials have also urged caution about appearing too close to Trump, warning that the association could alienate voters ahead of future elections.

Germany: Criticism From Both Right and Center

In Germany, criticism has come from both the populist right and the governing center-right.

Leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) have condemned Trump's foreign policy moves and called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from German bases, signaling growing unease even among parties that have previously welcomed Trump's support.

At the same time, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has engaged in a direct war of words with the White House over the Iran conflict, describing the U.S. as being "humiliated" in its negotiations with Tehran.

Trump responded by publicly criticizing Merz and warning that Washington could reduce its military presence in Germany-a move that would have major implications for NATO's strategic posture in Europe.

A Broader Political Liability

Even some of Trump's closest ideological allies have voiced concern.

In the United Kingdom, Nigel Farage, who has long been a champion of Trump's politics, has warned that U.S. threats over Greenland amounted to a "very hostile act," though he has stopped short of a broader break with the president.

The tensions reflect a broader trend: Trump's brand, once an asset for Europe's nationalist movements, has become politically toxic in some contexts.

Political scientists say European right-wing parties face a delicate balancing act. While they may share ideological overlap with Trump on immigration and nationalism, they must also respond to domestic voters who are wary of foreign entanglements, economic disruption and perceived challenges to national sovereignty.

What Happens Next

The fractures do not signal a complete break between the U.S. and Europe's right-wing movements, but they do mark a significant shift in tone.

Trump has continued to cultivate ties with some nationalist figures, and ideological alignment on key issues remains. However, the disputes over Iran, trade and territorial authority have exposed clear limits to that partnership, particularly when U.S. actions are seen as clashing with European political realities.

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This story was originally published June 19, 2026 at 2:02 PM.