Italian ministers boycott US July 4 reception over Trump row

Italian ministers will refuse to attend the U.S. Independence Day reception hosted by the American embassy in Rome on July 2, escalating the diplomatic feud between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. According to La Repubblica, Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida and Sports Minister Andrea Abodi are among those boycotting the event. The boycott follows Trump's claim that Meloni 'begged' for a photo with him at the G7 summit, which Meloni publicly disputed, calling the attacks senseless.