“She’s the Queen, Leave Her Alone!”: Belgian Defense Minister Slams Trump’s Jibe at Giorgia Meloni:

The ongoing transatlantic war of words between US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has escalated into a broader European diplomatic issue. In a staunch defense of the Italian Premier, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken has publicly warned against targeting Meloni following a controversial social media post by Trump. While Francken strongly advised European nations to safeguard their vital security ties with Washington, he drew a firm line when it came to the continuous mocking of one of Europe’s most influential leaders.

The Spark: Trump’s Viral ‘Restraining Order’ Mockery

The latest friction was triggered by a Sunday social media post where US President Donald Trump shared a photograph of Meloni and jokingly suggested that he might soon need a “restraining order” against her. The public jibe quickly went viral, reigniting the visible geopolitical tensions that have been brewing between the two leaders over the past few months.

Defending Meloni against the mockery, the Belgian Defense Minister emphasized her unparalleled political weight on the continent. “Of course we need him (Trump) as an ally, but don’t mess with Meloni,” Francken stated firmly. “She’s the queen of the center-right in Europe. She’s the most powerful. Leave her alone.”

The Dilemma: Balancing Transatlantic Security with Political Respect

Francken’s remarks highlight a delicate balancing act currently facing European administrations. He explicitly reminded European Union leaders that Europe will remain heavily dependent on American military protection and the US security umbrella for at least the next 5 to 10 years.

According to regional reports, the defense minister noted that Europe simply cannot afford to compromise its core defense capabilities by entirely distancing itself from the United States. However, he maintained that strategic dependence should not come at the cost of allowing key conservative figures and sovereign European leaders to be publicly diminished.

Echoes of a Bitter G7 Photo Controversy

The bad blood between Trump and Meloni traces back to a highly awkward interaction during the G7 Summit held in Evian, France, in June. Following the summit, a controversy erupted when Trump publicly claimed that the Italian Prime Minister had practically begged him to pose for a photograph together—a claim that Meloni and her administration flatly and systematically denied.

Expressing sheer disbelief over how a minor diplomatic encounter ballooned into a international dispute, Francken questioned the maturity of the feud. “I like her, she’s a conservative, she has the same views, and what are you arguing about? A photo!” the Belgian minister concluded, urging both sides to focus on critical global security issues rather than social media arguments.