The look on Giorgia Meloni‘s face at the Milan Fashion Week gala dinner, captured by photographers, speaks volumes — it’s entirely possible she thought she was staring down… Donald Trump himself. Italy’s Prime Minister gave New York and the 81st UN General Assembly the cold shoulder and headed to Milan instead, to check out what Versace had on offer. In her place, she dispatched Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to the United Nations — much like sending a distant relative to represent the family at a semi-acquaintance’s wedding. This, predictably, sent the opposition into a frenzy — which, judging by Meloni’s reaction, only reminded her to add their names to her brand-new Ferragamos. Not unlike Benjamin Netanyahu and the protesters during his UN address. Not that Italy’s Prime Minister would have known anything about that, of course.
Giorgia Meloni: “What a disgrace”
The opposition needed no further invitation to demonstrate just how little Meloni cares about their opinion. Matteo Renzi, former Prime Minister and leader of Italia Viva, called it an embarrassment and a disgrace in a video post. “This is a blunder. Our Prime Minister chose to stay in Italy to tend to her campaign. Everyone is in New York. Almost everyone — because Meloni didn’t come. And she sends Tajani in her place. What a disgrace,” Renzi said in the video he posted to his account.
Sono tutti a New York. Quasi tutti perché la Meloni non è venuta. E manda Tajani. Che figuraccia pic.twitter.com/JT56bsXBzb
— Matteo Renzi (@matteorenzi) September 23, 2026
The Five Star Movement picked up the same thread: “The international stage is in crisis, yet Meloni prefers to attend Fashion Week and give interviews on RAI television.” Meloni herself fired back, arguing that Italian fashion is going through a difficult period and needs support: “I felt it was right to go to Milan to support Italian fashion at a difficult moment for the sector as a whole — one that continues to bring great pride to our country.”
Milano Fashion Week, la premier Giorgia Meloni al Gala di Palazzo Reale: "Un segnale di vicinanza e di grazie a un settore chiave".
● Segui il canale X di LaPresse per gli aggiornamenti pic.twitter.com/Kdn0DPTVMz— LaPresse (@LaPresse_news) September 24, 2026
Many, however, believe she simply lost her nerve at the prospect of running into Donald Trump, who had been openly cold towards her since the summer. Meloni had extended an olive branch, but Trump appeared to be, at least where Italy was concerned, entirely colorblind — he had been expecting support for strikes against Iran, support that never materialized. As a result, many believe Italy’s Prime Minister was keen to avoid a potential public dressing-down.
Dicono che #Meloni abbia partecipato alla Milano Fashion Week per esprimere vicinanza al comparto della moda che non se la passa bene. Immagino che andrà anche davanti alle fabbriche, ai presidi degli operai che rischiano il licenziamento per esprimere vicinanza pure a loro, no? pic.twitter.com/s6Qenofdo8
— Kαrloѕ X. (@karlitos_x) September 24, 2026
