CNN Fact-Checker Daniel Dale Responds to Trump's Claims About Italian Prime Minister
CNN's Daniel Dale addressed President Trump's assertions regarding Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, highlighting Trump's history of dubious claims about being asked for favors.
Daniel Dale, a fact-checker for CNN, responded on Friday to President Donald Trump's assertion that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had "begged" him for a photograph. Dale emphasized that Trump has a long-standing pattern of making questionable claims about requests for favors, especially from former allies.
During a recent interview with Italian broadcaster La7, Trump stated, "She begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a photo with me so badly — I could have skipped it, but I felt sorry for her." In contrast, Meloni expressed her disbelief on social media, labeling Trump's claim as "completely made up" and insisting, "neither I nor Italy ever beg."
Dale noted that while it is plausible for someone with Trump's wealth and influence to be asked for favors, he has frequently accused various politicians of seeking his approval since entering politics. This trend seems to accelerate when these individuals later criticize him or his policies, as Meloni did regarding Trump's stance on the Iran war and his tariff threats.
Dale referred to Trump's past claims, such as those against Republican operative Cheri Jacobus, who alleged she left the GOP due to Trump's nomination. Trump alleged that she had "begged" him for a job, but Jacobus later provided evidence that his staff had initiated contact with her instead.
Another instance cited by Dale involved conservative activist Brent Bozell, whom Trump claimed in 2016 had come to him "begging for money like a dog." Bozell, now a U.S. ambassador to South Africa appointed by Trump, refuted this in his book "Unmasked: Big Media’s War Against Trump," stating, "I had not gone to him for money; he’d invited me for lunch to discuss his potential campaign. I hadn’t groveled. I hadn’t even asked for money. He’d offered it." Bozell humorously recalled the incident, noting that while he found it amusing, his wife did not share his sentiment.
