India, June 19 -- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday hit back at US President Donald Trump after he claimed she had "begged" him for a photograph during the recent G7 summit, calling his account "completely made up" and expressing shock at his remarks.

The dispute quickly escalated, with Italy's foreign minister Antonio Tajani cancelling a planned trip to the United States and condemning Trump's comments as an insult to the country.

The public spat marks a sharp downturn in relations between two leaders who were once seen as ideological allies and comes only days after the G7 summit appeared to show a thaw in their strained ties.

The controversy erupted after Trump, speaking to Italian television channel La7, claimed Melon...