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The Italian Prime Minister has strongly condemned the leader of Italy’s largest labor union after he described her as “the courtesan” of former US President Donald Trump.

Background of the Controversial Remarks

CGIL leader Maurizio Landini, the head of Italy’s CGIL labor organization, made the statement during a television appearance this Tuesday. This came just after international leaders, Meloni among them, attended a peace conference for the Middle East held in Egypt.

The union leader accused Meloni of “not having lifted a finger” to promote peace in Gaza, remarking her participation was limited to “acting as Trump’s courtesan”. “Fortunately, Italian people demonstrated to uphold the honor and dignity of Italy,” he commented.

Official Reaction

Via an online post on Thursday, Meloni stated that Landini was clearly blinded by growing bitterness (that I comprehend)”. She then publish a definition of the word “courtesan”.

“In my opinion most people are aware the primary definition associated with this term, but, to help anyone unfamiliar, I am sharing the first definition located via a simple web search,” Meloni explained, providing a screenshot that stated: “Woman of loose morals, straight; euphemism, sex worker.”

She also criticized her left-leaning critics, saying that for decades they had admonished us on respect for women” only to then attack a female leader by “referring to her as a prostitute”.

Landini’s Clarification

Replying to the Prime Minister’s comments, the union leader contended that there were “no sexist insults” against the Prime Minister and that his use of “Trump’s lackey”.

Through an official comment, he explained: “In a 10-minute interview, that is publicly available, to avoid any misunderstanding or misuse of the expression, I made it clear the sense of my words – that Meloni was on the coat tails of Trump, she was in Trump’s circle, she was Trump’s lackey.”

Meloni’s Relations with Trump

Meloni has consistently maintained cordial connections with the US president. During a speech during the Middle East event, Trump turned to Meloni – the lone woman in attendance – and called her “beautiful”. “Across America, such a remark might be politically fatal,” he noted. “Still, I am willing to chance it. May I comment that you look beautiful? Because you truly are beautiful.”

Trump afterwards lauded Meloni as “a role model for everyone” in regarding the English version of her book, I Am Giorgia: My Roots, My Principles, which contains a introduction by Donald Trump Jr..

Earlier Controversies

During the summer, the Prime Minister responded firmly after learning that altered images of her and other prominent Italian women had been shared on a pornographic website, expressing her disgust, and showing “empathy and assistance to all the women who have been offended, insulted and violated”.