U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly criticised Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, stating he is "shocked" by her and had expected her to be more courageous. In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Trump criticised Meloni for refusing to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked by Iran. This criticism marks a significant shift in tone from Meloni who was the only European leader to attend the president's inauguration in 2025. The war in Iran has significantly increased energy prices in Italy, which is heavily dependent on oil and gas imports.