Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sparked laughter at the Gaza summit in Egypt after joking that she would probably “kill someone” if she had to give up smoking.
The light-hearted moment came when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, known for his anti-smoking campaign, teased Meloni about her habit.
“You look great, but I have to make you stop smoking,” Erdoğan said, drawing laughs from fellow leaders Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron.
Macron quickly replied, “It’s impossible,” to which Meloni quipped, “I know, I know. I don’t want to kill somebody.”
The 48-year-old Italian leader recently revealed in a book that she started smoking again after quitting for 13 years, joking that cigarettes have even helped her bond with other world leaders, including Tunisian President Kais Saied.
At the same summit, US President Donald Trump described Meloni as “a beautiful young woman,” adding that such comments could end a political career in the US.
“I’m not allowed to say it because usually it’s the end of your political career if you say it. But I’ll take my chances!” Trump said, gesturing toward her.
“She’s incredible, they really respect her in Italy — a very successful politician.”
