Meloni: I’d Kill Somebody If I Had to Stop Smoking

THE TELEGRAPH: Giorgia Meloni has said that she would probably kill someone if she had to give up cigarettes.

The Italian prime minister was challenged over her smoking habit at the Gaza summit in Egypt by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Turkish president, who has vowed to make Turkey smoke-free.

“You look great. But I have to make you stop smoking,” he told Ms Meloni, to the laughter of Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron.

“It’s impossible,” the French president said during the meeting on the sidelines of the summit.

“I know, I know,” Ms Meloni said. “I don’t want to kill somebody.”

The 48-year-old recently revealed in a book that she had begun smoking again after quitting 13 years ago.

She also said that her tobacco habit had helped her bond with some foreign leaders, including Kais Saied, the president of Tunisia. » | James Crisp, Europe Editor | Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Giorgia Meloni should have suggested to Erdogan that he give up sugary foods. He's a diabetic. People should learn to give smokers a break. The war on smoking has gone on long enough now. — © Mark Alexander

Sommet pour la paix à Gaza en Égypte : quand Erdogan sermonne Giorgia Meloni sur sa consommation de tabac

LE FIGARO : À Charm-el-Cheikh, le président turc s’est improvisé conseiller santé auprès de la cheffe du gouvernement italien. Une scène légère qui illustre la croisade antitabac menée depuis plusieurs années par Ankara.

En marge du sommet pour la paix à Gaza organisé hier en Égypte, le président turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a trouvé une nouvelle cible pour sa croisade antitabac : la première ministre italienne, Giorgia Meloni. « Vous avez l’air superbe. Mais je dois vous faire arrêter de fumer », lui a-t-il lancé, selon des images diffusées par le quotidien italien Il Foglio . La cheffe du gouvernement a reconnu avoir repris la cigarette après treize ans d’abstinence, admettant qu’elle l’aidait « dans [ses] interactions politiques ». » | Par Louise Dugast | mardi 14 octobre 2025

„Wir lieben Viktor“ und Meloni „ist schön“: Trump stiehlt dem Gaza-Gipfel die Show

BERLINER ZEITUNG: Beim Gaza-Gipfel sprach Donald Trump über Frieden, Schönheit und Stärke. Mit Komplimenten für Giorgia Meloni und Lob für Viktor Orbán lenkte er die Aufmerksamkeit auf sich.

Beim Nahost-Gipfel im ägyptischen Badeort Scharm el-Scheich hat US-Präsident Donald Trump mit einer Mischung aus Charmeoffensive und Bühnenshow für Irritationen gesorgt. Der 79-Jährige lobte die italienische Regierungschefin Giorgia Meloni in seiner Rede als „schöne junge Frau“ und rief dem ungarischen Ministerpräsidenten Viktor Orbán zu: „Wir lieben Viktor. Du bist fantastisch.“ Internationale Beobachter werteten den Auftritt als Inszenierung, die von den eigentlichen Friedensgesprächen ablenkte.

„Es macht Ihnen nichts aus, wenn man Sie schön nennt, stimmt’s? Denn Sie sind es“, sagte Trump zu Meloni, die als einzige Frau unter rund 30 Staats- und Regierungschefs an dem Treffen teilnahm. Eigentlich dürfe er so etwas gar nicht sagen, weil solche Äußerungen normalerweise das Ende einer politischen Karriere bedeuteten, er gehe das Risiko aber trotzdem ein, sagte Trump inmitten seiner Rede über die Friedensbemühungen im Nahen Osten. Anschließend fügte der US-Präsident noch hinzu, die ihm politisch nahe stehende rechtspopulistische Regierungschefin sei „unglaublich“: „Und sie respektieren sie wirklich in Italien. Sie ist eine sehr erfolgreiche Politikerin.“ » | Alexander Schmalz | Dienstag, 14. Oktober 2025

Der Faschist Trump liebt andere Faschisten. Das ist nicht etwas Überraschendes. Eigentlich ist es etwas zu erwarten. Noch dazu: Trump findet Giorgia Meloni schön. Trump liebt schöne oder hübsche Frauen. Das haben wir schon lange gewusst. Meloni hat blondes Haar. Blond ähnelt Gold. Und Trump hat eine große Schwäche für alles Goldene! Schauen Sie mal das Oval Office an! — © Mark Alexander

Gefängnisstrafen für KI-Missbrauch: Italien führt strengste Regeln in der EU ein

BERLINER ZEITUNG: Italien ist das erste EU-Land, das ein umfassendes KI-Gesetz verabschiedet. Es sieht unter anderem jahrelange Gefängnisstrafen vor, wenn KI-Nutzung zu „Schäden“ führt.

Italien hat als erstes Land in der EU ein umfassendes Gesetz zur Regulierung des Einsatzes von Künstlicher Intelligenz verabschiedet, das unter anderem jahrelange Gefängnisstrafen vorsieht. Die rechtsgerichtete Regierung von Giorgia Meloni erklärte, dass die Gesetzgebung, die mit dem KI-Gesetz der EU übereinstimmt, ein entscheidender Schritt sei, um die Nutzung von KI in Italien zu beeinflussen. Der italienische Senat hat das Gesetz nach einjähriger Debatte endgültig verabschiedet.

Ziel sei es, eine „menschenzentrierte, transparente und sichere KI-Nutzung“ zu fördern und gleichzeitig „Innovation, Cybersicherheit und Schutz der Privatsphäre“ zu betonen, so Meloni. Das Gesetz sieht Haftstrafen zwischen einem und fünf Jahren für die illegale Verbreitung von KI-generierten oder manipulierten Inhalten vor, wenn diese Schaden anrichten, wie etwa beim Erstellen von Deepfakes. » | Sophie Barkey | Freitag, 19. September 2025

Giorgia Meloni ‘Disgusted’ at Posting of Photos of Her and Other Women on Porn Site

THE GUARDIAN: Italian platform Phica closes after sharing altered images of PM, her sister, opposition leader and others

The Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has said she is “disgusted” that photos of her and other women were posted on a pornographic website, and called for the perpetrators to be swiftly identified and “punished with the utmost firmness”.

Images of Meloni’s sister, Arianna, and the opposition leader, Elly Schlein, were also discovered on the Italian platform Phica, which had more than 700,000 subscribers before its managers closed the site on Thursday, blaming users for “using the platform incorrectly”.

The photos, accompanied by vulgar and sexist captions, were taken from either personal social media accounts or public sources without consent and altered to zoom in on body parts or depict the women in sexual poses. Dozens of women have come forward to file complaints about Phica and similar platforms since the scandal was exposed this week by several prominent women. » | Angela Giuffrida in Rome | Friday, August 29, 2025

Related article here.

CORRIERE DELLA SERA:

Giorgia e Arianna Meloni, la rabbia per i siti sessisti. La premier: «Disgustata, nessuno sconto»: L'indignazione delle sorelle Meloni per i siti dove foto di donne ignare vengono commentate con insulti sessisti. La premier: «Bisogna denunciare». Arianna: «C’è una società del click che rovina le vite delle persone» »

Outrage in Italy over Porn Site with Doctored Images of Prominent Women

THE GUARDIAN: Altered photos of women including Giorgia Meloni were posted on site along with vulgar and sexist captions

A pornographic website that posted doctored photos of a host of high-profile Italian women including the prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, and the opposition leader, Elly Schlein, has sparked outrage in Italy.

The photos, accompanied by vulgar and sexist captions, were either harvested from personal social media accounts or public sources before being altered and published on the Italian platform Phica, which has more than 700,000 subscribers.

Images of female politicians from across party lines had been taken during rallies or TV interviews or while the women were in their bikinis on holiday. They had been altered to zoom in on body parts or suggest sexual poses. They were featured in the site’s “VIP section”. » | Angela Giuffrida in Rome | Thursday, August 28, 2025

Italian PM Hilariously Rolls Eyes at German Chancellor as He … Lectures Trump

Aug 19, 2025 | Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been caught rolling her eyes at the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The hilarious moment was caught on camera as Merz attempted to lecture US President Donald Trump about achieving a ceasefire.

Meloni, seemingly uninterested, rolled her eyes when the German Chancellor said a ceasefire must take place before a trilateral meeting takes place.

In another comical moment from the Italian Prime Minister during the meeting, she had a hot mic moment while talking to Trump. The Italian Prime Minister joked about how Trump loved talking to his press and she hated talking to hers.

Despite her humorous moments, Meloni commended Trump’s efforts to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.


I have a comment to make which is quite off point. It is this: Is it difficult to find talented hairdressers in Rome these days? Giorgia Meloni’s hairstyle leaves much to be desired. A significant person in my childhood would have described her hairstyle as resembling rats’ tails! I would not gainsay this description. Giorgia! Do yourself a favour and ask your hairstylist for a new style which is more flattering. Ich bitte um Verzeihung! – © Mark Alexander

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Full Speech at CPAC 2025

Feb 22, 2025 | Giorgia Meloni spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

Giorgia Meloni talks of respecting freedoms yet allegedly persecutes gays. She talks of traditional family values yet prefers giving speeches to procreation. Doesn’t she know that Italy is crying out for babies? Doesn’t she know that the birth rate in Italy is at an all time low? In fact, it is like so many other Western countries. But in Italy, the birth rate is so low that more people are dying there than there are babies being born. How does this sit with Meloni’s traditional family values? Moreover, is Giorgia’s own lifestyle beyond reproach? Is she really in a position to criticise Italy’s gays and make life difficult for them? It would appear that Giorgia Meloni is guilty of a very old hypocrisy. Namely, ‘don’t do as I do, do as I say.’ But then, we shouldn’t be surprised. She holds up Trump as an exemplar. – © Mark Alexander

Trump and Meloni: A New Alliance in Europe?

Jan 21, 2025 | Donald Trump is back in the White House, and the world is waiting to see what he brings. As he starts his second term as President, we examine what this means for Europe. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is poised to become one of Trump's key allies, but not everyone in Europe is on board.

Our guests are…

Jamie Shea, Former NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General;
Gesine Weber, Fellow at the German Marshall Fund;
Steve Gill, Former Presidential Adviser.


Giorgia — sono una donna cristiana — Meloni must surely be just the woman to further Trump’s fascist policies here in Europe. – © Mark Alexander

Giorgia Meloni: “I Am a Woman, I Am a Mother, I Am Italian, I Am a Christian…”

Did you know these things? If you didn’t, you do now! I wonder how Giorgia, the Christian, would react if one of her children turned out to be gay? Sono una donna cristiana

As Trump Enters the Fray, the Danger Is that a Nationalist Europe Will Fragment, Not Stick Together

THE GUARDIAN: Rightwing leaders such as Meloni and Orbán set themselves up as Trump whisperers – but they only want to preserve their own interests

Afar-right wind is blowing across the Atlantic. While the rise of the populist right in Europe predated Donald Trump’s re-election, far-right parties, leaders and governments across Europe are being bolstered by his imminent return to power, and by Elon Musk’s rising political star. There is some hope that Trump’s presidency could have a unifying effect on Europe – and on issues such as defence policy, I believe it might.

Trump’s apparent disregard for international law, sovereign borders and the US’s Nato allies with his ludicrous threat, even before his second term begins, to annex Greenland by force, drew a swift and unified reaction from France, Germany and Spain, whose leaders made it clear that they are, as you would expect, appalled and standing with Denmark. Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said Trump’s remarks had triggered “incomprehension” among European leaders.

But in areas such as trade, technology and space, there is a much higher chance that a more nationalistic Europe, confronted by a predatory divide-and-rule US, will fragment rather than stick together. And this is exactly what the Trump-Musk axis seems to be after. » | Nathalie Tocci | Monday, January 13, 2025

Isn’t it high time that God did His thing? – © Mark Alexander

Viva La Meloni: The Reign of the Far Right

Jan 6, 2025 | Report by Valérie Dupont, produced by RTS Radio Télévision Suisse

Italy ranks 46th worldwide for press freedom. The only European country on the list, Giorgia Méloni's Italy has no love for the press, not for progressive individual rights for migrant or LGBT people. Her direct communication via social networks highlights her ideological and societal battles, which perfectly fit the conservative tones of her tagline "God, Fatherland and Family".


Fascism is gaining ground right across Europe and right across America, too, alas. People never learn from the mistakes of the past. Regarding Italy, Giorgia Meloni hates gays, it seems. But this is to be expected, of course. After all, she is such a good Christian. The exemplar extraordinaire. – © Mark Alexander

Italy Blocks Meloni's Migrant Plan; Musk Calls It "Unacceptable" | Firstpost America

Nov 14, 2024 | Italy Blocks Meloni's Migrant Plan; Musk Calls It "Unacceptable" | Firstpost America

With the US election over, Elon Musk has turned his attention to Italy, jumping into its contentious immigration debate. This week, Musk criticised an Italian court's decision to block Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's plan to detain migrants in Albania while processing their asylum requests. The court ruled that seven migrants detained in Albania must return to Italy, citing potential conflicts with European Union law. Musk, calling the decision "unacceptable," questioned whether Italy’s democracy is truly led by the people or an "unelected autocracy." Italy's President Sergio Mattarella responded sharply, warning Musk to respect Italy's sovereignty, while Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini welcomed Musk’s support for Meloni's stance.

Elon Musk Told ‘Not to Interfere’ in Migrant Policy by Italy’s President | BBC News

Nov 15, 2024 | Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella has told Elon Musk “not to interfere” in the country’s politics, after the billionaire waded into a debate over Rome's migrant policy.

Mr Musk commented on a ruling by Italian judges that curbed Italy's controversial deal with Albania over processing migrants, writing on X that this decision was “unacceptable”, and that these judges “need to go”.

In an unusual move, President Sergio Mattarella indirectly responded to Musk in a statement.



Democracy has turned toxic! I wonder why? – © Mark Alexander

Giorgia Meloni: Die geschickteste Populistin Europas – Shortcut | DER SPIEGEL

Oct 25, 2024 | In Italien radikal, in der EU pragmatisch: Giorgia Meloni regiert ihr Land länger als die meisten ihrer Vorgänger. SPIEGEL-Korrespondent Frank Hornig berichtet, warum ihr gelingt, wovon viele Rechtspopulisten träumen.

Gestation pour autrui : l'Italie étend son interdiction en la rendant illégale même à l'étranger

LE FIGARO : Les Italiens qui recourent à une mère porteuse à l'étranger sont exposés à des poursuites judiciaires à leur retour.

Les sénateurs italiens ont adopté ce mercredi une loi qui renforce l'interdiction de la gestation pour autrui (GPA) en la rendant illégale même à l'étranger, permettant ainsi son entrée en vigueur. Le texte expose les Italiens qui recourent à une mère porteuse à l'étranger à des poursuites judiciaires à leur retour. Il a été défendu par le parti Fratelli d'Italia de la première ministre Giorgia Meloni, qui se revendique elle-même comme une «mère chrétienne», vainqueur des élections de 2022 après une campagne axée sur le nationalisme et les valeurs familiales traditionnelles. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | jeudi 17 octobre 2024

Related here.

Italy Criminalizes Surrogacy From Abroad, a Blow to Gay and Infertile Couples

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The new law was pushed by the party of Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s conservative prime minister.

A protest organized by families and L.G.B.T.Q. associations to support surrogacy in Rome in April. | Andreas Solaro/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Italy passed a law on Wednesday that criminalizes seeking surrogacy abroad, a move the country’s conservative government said would protect women’s dignity, while critics see it as yet another crackdown by the government on L.G.B.T. families, as the law will make it virtually impossible for gay fathers to have children.

Surrogacy is already illegal in Italy. But the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has vowed to broaden the ban to punish Italians who seek it in countries where it is legal, like in parts of the United States.

Analysts saw the legislation as a way for Ms. Meloni to assert her conservative credentials and appeal to her political base, which disproportionately opposes surrogacy and adoption by gay couples. Italy, home to the Vatican, already ranks low in Europe when it comes to civil liberties, and Italian critics say that by imposing further restrictions on gay families, Ms. Meloni has taken a particularly hard line.

Even before it passed, the law had plunged gay families into panic. Now, they feel even more in danger, since under the new law they could be subject to prison sentences and large fines if they seek a surrogate birth abroad. » | Emma Bubola, Reporting from Rome | Wednesday, October 16, 2024

The population of Italy is in steep decline. More people are dying there than there are babies being born. So, I would have thought that Georgia Meloni would be grateful for any babies being born to Italian families, straight or gay, by natural means or through surrogacy.

No doubt for a devout, upstanding lady such as Georgia Meloni, for a person of such high morals, it must be extremely difficult to countenance babies being born in surrogacy to rainbow families, but as the old saying goes, beggars cannot be choosers.

This is a sad day for all Italian gays who dream of bringing up a family. This is a mean, unnecessary law which punishes innocent, well-intentioned, loving people — people who could give a warm, kind and loving home to truly wanted children. We know that children born in surrogacy are wanted because surrogacy is an extremely expensive route to parenthood.

With all this extreme right garbage going on both sides of the Atlantic, it is difficult not to conclude that we in the West are hurtling towards very dark times. Each passing day seems to bring more news redolent of Europe in the 1930s! These are troubling times indeed. — © Mark Alexander

Italian Deputy Minister Questions Giorgia Meloni Being Labelled a Fascist

Oct 4, 2024 | Italy's Deputy Minister for Enterprises Valentino Valentini has critiqued mainstream media for labelling Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni a far-right fascist, claiming Ms Meloni has “proved” the term “does not apply”.

“That was the corner where most of the mainstream media tried to place Meloni,” Mr Valentini told Sky News host Danica De Giorgio.

“Firstly, because she was an unknown figure and secondly because she comes from the right.

“Meloni has proved the term fascist does not apply.”

'Destroying Western Civilisation…': Italian PM Meloni Delivers Implicit Rebuke to Left in US Speech

Sep 24, 2024 | Elon Musk offered effusive praise for Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni in brief remarks at an awards ceremony in New York, the latest sign of coziness between a billionaire who’s trying to get Donald Trump elected and a European leader with roots in the hard right but who has fully embraced Atlanticism. After Musk spoke, Meloni delivered an implicit rebuke to the left, lamenting the desire to “violently erase the symbols of our civilizations in the US as in Europe.” “I know that we should not be ashamed to use and defend words and concepts like nation and patriotism, words that mean more than a physical place,” Meloni said. “They mean a state of mind to which one belongs.”

Elon Musk Hails Italy’s Leader at Awards Ceremony

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Mr. Musk described Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as “authentic, honest and thoughtful.” She used her Atlantic Council spotlight to defend Western values.

Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla, and Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, were the stars of a black-tie dinner in New York on Monday that highlighted Mr. Musk’s increasing involvement in politics.

Ms. Meloni had chosen Mr. Musk to introduce her as she received a Global Citizen Award from the Atlantic Council, a Washington think tank that cited “her political and economic leadership of Italy, in the European Union” and of the Group of 7 nations “as well as her support of Ukraine in Russia’s war against it.”

The prime minister and the billionaire business leader have bonded over the years. They share concerns about artificial intelligence and declining birthrates in Western countries, which Mr. Musk has called an existential threat to civilization.

He described Ms. Meloni on Monday as “someone who is even more beautiful inside than outside” and “authentic, honest and thoughtful.” » | Jack Ewing and Emma Bubola | Monday, September 23, 2024

Elon Musk denies having an affair with ‘beautiful’ Giorgia Meloni: The Italian PM, who split from her long-time partner Andrea Giambruno in 2023, had requested the X owner present her with the award »