Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni often goes viral for her expressions and gestures during her visits and meetings. Now, in a fresh moment that caught Meloni off guard, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joked about the Italian PM’s smoking habit. A brief interaction between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni drew widespread attention at the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit on Monday, after a video of their exchange circulated online.
In the clip, which quickly went viral, Erdogan greets Meloni with a warm smile and jokes, “I saw you coming down from the plane. You look great. But I have to make you stop smoking.”
Standing nearby, French President Emmanuel Macron joins in with a laugh, saying, “It’s impossible!” Meloni, momentarily surprised but amused, responds with a laugh, “I know, I know. I don’t want to kill somebody.” The Italian leader has previously mentioned in interviews that she started smoking again after having quit for 13 years.
ERDOGAN TO MELONI: I HAVE TO MAKE YOU STOP SMOKING
Erdogan:
“I saw you coming down from the plane.
You look great.
But I have to make you stop smoking.”
Meloni:
“I know, I know.
I don’t want to kill somebody”
Source: @ihacomtr https://t.co/FX7G3CR5g1 pic.twitter.com/glcfOZAA6Z
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 13, 2025
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