As Meloni's ties with Trump cool, Iran posts cheeky job application to Italy
The post came after Giorgia Meloni called Donald Trump's remarks on Pope Leo "unacceptable," marking a rare public criticism that reflected broader outrage across Italy.
In an X post, the Iran's Ghana Embassy took a veiled dig at Donald Trump, while extending a hand of friendship to Italy. (File photo)
A diplomatic post from Iran’s mission in Ghana went viral after it jabbed US President Donald Trump while playfully reaching out to Italy with an offer of friendship and alliance, following PM Georgia Meloni's rare public rebuke of the US leader over his remarks on Pope Leo. The post used terms like "Commander-in-Grief" and "most powerfool man" for Trump.
"Dear Italy, Your PM just defended Pope and lost an ally in Washington — the Commander in Grief, yet the most powerfoolman on earth. We'd like to apply for the vacancy".
"Our qualifications: 7,000 years of civilization, a shared love of poetry, architecture, and food that takes longer to prepare than Trump's attention span. The only thing Iran and Italy have ever fought over is who invented ice cream. Faloodeh came first. Gelato came louder. We've been in a 'cold' war over this for 2,000 years," the Iranian Embassy in Ghana posted, adding a tinge of political satire to the diplomatic conversation.
Earlier, PM Meloni called Trump’s attack on Pope Leo "unacceptable," marking an unusually direct criticism from a leader often seen as close to Washington.
TRUMP'S ATTACK ON POPE, MELONI'S RETORT
Trump had sparked outrage by calling the Pope "terrible" and posting an AI-generated image portraying himself in a Christ-like form—moves that drew sharp backlash across political and religious circles.
Meloni’s remarks reflected broader anger in Italy, where the Pope holds deep cultural and spiritual significance.
Her statement underlined that "it is right and normal for him to call for peace and to condemn every form of war," positioning the pontiff as a moral voice amid escalating global tensions.
The episode has also exposed growing discomfort in Europe over Trump’s rhetoric.
Against this backdrop, Iran’s Ghana embassy seized the moment with its signature blend of sarcasm and soft diplomacy.
The post is part of a broader pattern featuring Iranian diplomatic missions that have recently embraced a more informal, meme-savvy tone online, mixing geopolitics with pop culture and humour.
A recent example came from Iran’s consulate in Mumbai, which reposted a politically charged message on the Israel–Palestine conflict while adding a distinctly Indian flavour.
Referring to India as "a land where philosophers debated under trees, mathematicians invented zero, and wisdom was basically a lifestyle," it signed off with the Hindi line, "Aur bhai, yahan gyaan bhi milta hai aur swag bhi".
The casual tone sparked amusement—and speculation that the account might be locally managed.
In another instance, the same consulate borrowed a famous Bollywood line—"Abhi toh sirf trailer hai, picture abhi baaki hai"—while showcasing Iran’s naval strength, hinting at tensions with the US in the Persian Gulf.
Those tensions remain high. The latest flare-up follows a US naval blockade targeting Iranian shipping routes, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz—a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Amid all this, Iran’s online diplomacy appears to be carving out a new playbook—less stiff, more conversational, and occasionally, disarmingly witty.
And as the Italy-US spat shows, sometimes a well-timed joke can land harder than a formal statement.
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