WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump said Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni lacked courage over the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, criticizing her in an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera published Tuesday. "I'm shocked at her. I thought she had courage, but I was wrong," Trump said.

He said Meloni did not want to help get rid of a nuclear-armed Iran. "She's unacceptable because she doesn't mind that Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow up Italy in two minutes if they had the chance," he said.

Trump also directed criticism at NATO and Europe more broadly, describing the military alliance as a "paper tiger." "She doesn't help us with NATO," he said of Meloni. He criticized Europe for not being willing to fight for the Strait of Hormuz, which he said is where the continent obtains its energy.

In the same interview, he turned to the subject of immigration. "Italy is not the same country," Trump said. "Immigration is killing Italy and all of Europe."

Meloni has been Italy's leader since October 2022. Last week, the Italian government accused Israeli forces of firing warning shots at a convoy of Italian peacekeepers in Lebanon. Italy also suspended a defense agreement with Israel involving the exchange of military equipment and technology research. "In view of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defence agreement with Israel," Meloni said.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani responded to Trump's comments on X. "We are and remain staunch supporters of Western unity and steadfast allies of the United States, but this unity is built on mutual loyalty, respect, and honesty," Tajani wrote. He said that until Trump's interview, the president had regarded Meloni as courageous. "He was not mistaken, but she is a woman who never shies away from saying what she thinks," he added.