Fact Check: Did G7 diplomats ask to sit farther from Donald Trump over an alleged body odor issue?

WASHINGTON, DC: A viral X post has sparked online discussion after claiming that Italian officials mocked President Donald Trump’s body odor during the recent G7 summit, alleging that diplomats wanted seats as far away from him as possible. The claim appeared to play off a separate controversy involving Trump’s remarks about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

As the post gained traction and prompted questions from social media users, many wondered whether any Italian officials had actually made the alleged comments. Here's what the facts show.

Claim: G7 diplomats asked to sit farther from Donald Trump over an alleged body odor issue

A post shared by the X account Halfway Post claimed, “Italian officials say Donald Trump smelled so bad at the G7 summit that ‘the only begging going on was diplomats begging to have seats on the far side of the table opposite Trump.’”

The post quickly attracted attention, receiving more than 19,800 views at the time of writing and generating numerous reactions. One user commented, “Is this really true? Can it be verified? I've seen, read, and heard many reports of Trump smelling bad, but in today's world, especially on X, I have to ask—is it really true?” Others accepted the claim as factual and used it to criticize the US president.

The viral post surfaced shortly after the G7 summit concluded around June 17. It also appeared to reference Trump's recent comments about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Trump had claimed in an interview with La7 that Meloni repeatedly “begged” him for a photo opportunity and that he agreed only because she was allegedly facing political difficulties at home.

Meloni publicly rejected the allegation, calling it “completely fabricated.” She later posted a video saying, “Neither I nor Italy ever beg,” while criticizing Trump’s remarks about a key US ally.

Fact Check: False, the claim originated from a satire account

The claim is false. There is no evidence that Italian officials complained about Donald Trump’s body odor or that diplomats requested seats farther away from him during the 2026 G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France.

No credible news organizations, Italian government representatives, diplomats, or summit attendees have reported any such incident.

The source of the claim was the X account @HalfwayPost, which openly identifies itself as a satire account. Its profile description reads: “Dadaist graffiti news. Halfway true comedy and satire for your doomscrolling. I don't report the facts, I improve them.”

The post was a satirical take on the real controversy surrounding Trump’s comments about Meloni allegedly “begging” for a photograph. By combining that dispute with long-running internet jokes and rumors about Trump’s personal hygiene, the account created a fictional scenario intended for humor.

There is no factual basis for the claim, and the viral post should not be interpreted as a genuine report from Italian officials or summit participants.