Elon Musk shuts down affair rumors with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni after viral photos

Elon Musk has denied rumors of an affair with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after photos of the two together caused a stir on social media, with Musk calling the politician "beautiful."

Images circulated online showing the Tesla CEO and the Italian Prime Minister looking into each other’s eyes at the Global Citizen Awards in New York City on Monday, as Musk presented Meloni with the award.

“Find someone who looks at you the same way the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni looks at Elon Musk,” one X user captioned a photo showing Musk with his hand on Meloni’s shoulder.

Another user humorously added, “You can't have mELONi without ELON."

The New York Post even referred to the event as a 'public love-in' between the world's wealthiest man and Italy’s first female prime minister.

However, as the photos spread across social media, Musk denied any romantic involvement with Meloni at the formal event.

“I was there with my Mom. There is no romantic relationship whatsoever with PM Meloni,” Musk clarified on X in response to a photo post that showed them gazing into each other’s eyes at a banquet table, with a humorous caption, “We all know what happened next.”

Musk and Meloni have met on several previous occasions, with the Italian leader hosting the billionaire at her official residence in Rome in June of last year.

Musk returned to Italy in December, where he spoke at a political event hosted by Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party.

The two have discussed topics of mutual concern, such as the West's declining birth rates and the potential benefits of AI, as reported by the Telegraph.

Meloni, who separated from her longtime partner Andrea Giambruno after his inappropriate remarks on Italian TV in 2023, had specifically requested that Musk present her the Global Citizen Award from the Atlantic Council.

In brief comments before giving her the award, Musk described Meloni as “someone who is even more beautiful inside than outside.”

“That can't always be said about politicians,” he quipped, further describing her as "authentic, honest, and thoughtful."

The Italian right-wing leader responded by calling the U.S. businessman a "precious genius" before sharing her vision of Western conservatism.