Rubio meets Meloni as Trump–Pope clash clash escalates US strains with key European ally

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni amid diplomatic tensions between the US and Italy, as well as the Vatican, due to escalating rhetoric between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV. The meeting aims to calm relations after weeks of disputes over the Iran war and US combat-linked operations in Italy. The relationship between Trump and Meloni has frayed recently despite their shared ideological views.