Comments from President Donald Trump about Giorgia Meloni have sparked a feud with the Italian prime minister, and the pair are exchanging barbs over their respective popularity among voters.

On Saturday, Trump said that Meloni was “doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity,” prompting a direct response from the Italian leader, who said that being a “friend” to the president “certainly has not helped” her standing within the country.

“In any case, my popularity is none of your concern,” her post to Instagram continued. “I suggest you focus on yours.”

What Is the Trump-Meloni Fight About?

Meloni is among Trump’s most loyal political allies in Europe, and the pair have largely enjoyed a close political relationship.

However, the Iran war strained these ties, with Meloni criticizing the disregard shown for civilian casualties during the U.S.-Israeli strikes on the country, while showing support for Pope Leo XIV when the U.S. administration sparred with the Vatican.

And the feud came to a head as both leaders traveled to France this past week to attend the annual G7 Summit.

Trump told the Italian broadcaster La7 that Meloni had “begged” him for a picture together during the summit, which took place from June 15 to 17.

"She wanted a picture with me so badly," Trump said. "I wouldn't have taken it, but I felt sorry for her."

Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, on Friday canceled a planned visit to the U.S. over these “offensive” comments, and Meloni strongly denied his story regarding the photo op, saying it was "completely unfounded" and adding that "neither I, nor Italy, ever beg."

The president followed this up with Saturday’s Truth Social post, in which he said Meloni “asked, over and over, for a picture with me,” and suggested that her popularity within Italy was suffering because she “turned down” his administration’s calls for European allies to assist in military efforts in Iran.

“Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her ‘numbers up,’” he wrote.

“These constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless,” Meloni responded via a post to Instagram. “As for my popularity, being your friend certainly has not helped it, nor does it depend on my relationship with you.”

Who Is More Popular According to Polls?

As the two trade blows over their respective standing among voters, polls show that neither commands the kind of popularity worth boasting about.

The latest survey from YouGov finds Trump underwater with registered voters, with 40.6 percent viewing him favorably versus 58.1 percent unfavorably—a second-term high—and 1.3 percent undecided, resulting in a net rating of -17.5.

The same pollster put Meloni’s net favorability at -17 within her own country in May, with 38 percent holding a positive opinion of the prime minister and 55 percent a negative one. However, this puts her ahead of several other European leaders, including U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer (-51) and French President Emmanuel Macron (-60).

In terms of approval—closer to a gauge of governing success than outright popularity—Meloni currently sits at 44 percent according to a poll from Ipsos. This clears the 36 percent approval currently enjoyed by Trump, per the latest Reuters/Ipsos survey, which marked a one-point improvement.

Another poll conducted June 8-11 by the Marist Poll in partnership with NPR and PBS News also put his approval at 36 percent, though it said this marked a second-term low amid concerns over his handling of the economy in particular.

And in a broad assessment of world leader approval ratings, Statista found the pair nearly even, with Meloni at 39 percent compared to 38 percent for Trump. Disapproval for the two stood at 55 percent and 57 percent, respectively.

Meanwhile, her Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d'Italia) party leads in Politico polling of parliamentary voting intention at 28 percent, while the opposition Democratic Party stands at 22 percent as of June 15.

And while no polls have been conducted within Italy since the feud with Trump erupted this week, the Italian prime minister appears to have found support in her country’s media.

The front-page headline of the right-wing Italian newspaper Libero on Saturday translated roughly to “Trump is an a**hole.”