At the Gaza peace summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to stop smoking. Meloni responded humorously, saying giving up might dampen her social charm.
During the Gaza peace summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan unexpectedly told Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, “I have to make you stop smoking.” The remark, delivered as the leaders arrived in Sharm El-Sheikh, drew laughter from onlookers, including French President Emmanuel Macron, who joked that it was impossible.
Erdoğan reportedly told her he saw her stepping off the plane and insisted she must quit.
Standing beside them, French President Emmanuel Macron laughed off the idea, declaring it “impossible”.
🇹🇷🇮🇹 ERDOGAN TO MELONI: I HAVE TO MAKE YOU STOP SMOKING
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 13, 2025
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
Meloni’s Witty Comeback
Meloni didn’t shy away from a humorous yet pointed response. She warned that quitting might reduce her social ease, saying: “I know, I know. I don’t want to kill somebody.”
In a published book of her interviews, she previously admitted smoking allowed her to bond with world leaders, including Tunisia’s Kais Saied.
Why This Moment Stood Out
- The remark from Erdoğan was out of the ordinary — it shifted focus from geopolitical issues to a personal admonishment.
- Meloni’s measured, playful response prevented an awkward moment from escalating.
- It highlighted how diplomatic settings often mix formal discussions with informal, human interactions.
- The exchange also underscores how public figures’ habits — like smoking — can become symbolic talking points.
