by InTrieste
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy on Sunday expressed solidarity with President Donald Trump after a shooting incident disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington on Saturday evening, an episode that unfolded amid increasingly strained relations between the two leaders.
Mr. Trump and Vice President JD Vance were escorted off the stage after gunfire was reported during the annual event at the Washington Hilton, according to U.S. officials. The suspect, identified by authorities as Cole Thomas Allen, 31, was detained and taken into custody. Mr. Trump, Mr. Vance and all cabinet members present were later confirmed safe.
The incident occurred at the same hotel where President Ronald Reagan was wounded in an assassination attempt in 1981.
In a message posted on social media Sunday morning, Ms. Meloni said she wanted to express her “full solidarity and most sincere closeness” to Mr. Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Mr. Vance and everyone attending the dinner.
“No political hatred can find space in our democracies,” she wrote. “We will not allow fanaticism to poison the places of free debate and information.”
She added that protecting open political discourse must remain “an insurmountable bulwark” against intolerance and essential to safeguarding the democratic values shared by both nations.
The statement came at a delicate moment in the relationship between Ms. Meloni and Mr. Trump.
Once seen as one of Mr. Trump’s closest European allies, Ms. Meloni had been widely expected to serve as a key interlocutor between Washington and European capitals following his return to office 15 months ago. In recent weeks, however, that relationship has shown signs of significant strain.
Asked in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera whether he had spoken with Ms. Meloni recently, Mr. Trump replied: “No, not in a long time.”
Tensions appeared to deepen after Mr. Trump criticized Ms. Meloni following her public remarks condemning his comments about Pope Leo XIV. “I’m shocked by her,” he said at the time. “I thought she had courage.”
Differences have also emerged over foreign policy. Italy has declined to participate in the U.S.-Israel military campaign involving Iran and, according to Italian officials, last month refused authorization for American bombers to land at a major air base in Sicily.
Despite those disagreements, Ms. Meloni’s message on Sunday underscored Italy’s support following an episode that quickly drew international attention and renewed concerns over political violence in the United States.
