A strong majority of Italians have sided with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni amid rising tensions with US President Donald Trump.
The rift became public after Italy declined to support the US-Israeli strike on Iran and, most notably, when Meloni, on April 13, publicly defended the Pope, describing attacks against him by Trump as “unacceptable”.
The US President responded sharply, attacking Meloni and suggesting that the positive relationship they once enjoyed is now over.
New polling data suggest that Meloni’s stance has resonated strongly with the Italian public and may have significantly weakened Trump’s appeal in the country, including among conservative voters.
The survey, conducted by Istituto Noto Poll and presented yesterday on the Italian television programme Porta a Porta broadcast on Rai 1, shows a clear and broad-based consensus in favour of Meloni’s position.
Italians were asked whether the PM had done the right or wrong thing by stepping in to defend the Pope after Trump publicly expressed disappointment with her stance.
The results leave little room for ambiguity: Some 81 per cent of respondents said Meloni did the right thing, just 9 per cent believed she was wrong and 10 per cent said they did not know.
Such figures point to a rare moment of unity in Italy, cutting across ideological lines and extending into segments of the electorate that have previously shown sympathy for Trump.
The data reflect an unusually cohesive political response, with major parties lining up in defence of Meloni. Elly Schlein, leader of the centre-left Democratic Party, expressed support for the Prime Minister in parliament.
Support for Meloni’s position also spans party lines among voters. According to the same poll, 92 per cent of voters of Italia Viva (centre) backed her stance, along with 89 per cent of supporters of the Democratic Party (centre-left) and the Greens and Left Alliance, 88 per cent of Brothers of Italy (right-wing) voters. In addition, 80 per cent of those supporting Forza Italia (centre-right) and the Lega (right-wing), 76 per cent of the Five Star Movement (generally considered anti-establishment with left-leaning positions), and 70 per cent of Action (centre).
The episode underlines the enduring importance of the papacy in Italian public life, where defending the Pope continues to carry political as well as cultural weight. Meloni’s intervention appears to have reinforced her domestic standing, projecting an image of leadership that prioritises national and religious sensitivities even in the face of pressure from a key ally.
At the same time, some observers point to a broader trend: Trump’s declining popularity in Italy may be turning his criticism into a political liability for those he targets.
“Meloni has been looking for an assist to distance herself from Trump, and this frontal attack gives her the chance,” said Lorenzo Castellani, a researcher at LUISS University in Rome, speaking to Bloomberg.
“Attacks on the Pope and the economic uncertainty have likely subverted the calculus on whether an alliance with him is sustainable.”
For Trump, the data suggest that his criticism may have backfired. While the long-term diplomatic implications remain uncertain, the message emerging from Italian public opinion is clear: His popularity in Italy appears to have weakened, including among traditionally right-leaning voters.
