A light-hearted exchange between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the G7 Summit quickly went viral after Meloni jokingly described the pair as "the most famous couple on Instagram", reigniting the popular 'Melodi' trend across social media.
France: Amid discussions on global security, trade and diplomacy at the G7 Summit in France, one of the most talked-about moments came during a casual interaction between Modi and Meloni.
As leaders gathered for the traditional group photograph, Meloni greeted Modi warmly with "Nice to see you again." When the Indian prime minister appeared to reference their popularity online, Meloni responded with a smile: "Yeah, we are the most famous on Instagram."
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The brief exchange quickly spread across social media platforms, with users reviving the now-famous 'Melodi' hashtag.
How the 'Melodi' phenomenon began
The 'Melodi' trend originated during the COP28 summit in Dubai in November 2023.
At the time, Meloni posted a selfie with Modi and captioned it: "Good friends at COP28 #Melodi."
The post instantly went viral, inspiring memes, fan edits and social media discussions. Since then, nearly every public interaction between the two leaders has generated renewed interest online.
Chocolate gift added to the craze
The phenomenon received another boost during Modi's visit to Rome last month.
In a playful nod to the viral nickname, Modi gifted Meloni a packet of Melody chocolates. The gesture drew widespread attention after Meloni shared a video of the exchange.
"Prime Minister Modi brought us a gift... very, very good toffee," Meloni said while laughing alongside the Indian leader. The video reportedly amassed tens of millions of views within hours and became one of the most discussed political clips on social media.
G7 hot mics reveal lighter side of diplomacy
Beyond the Modi-Meloni interaction, several informal conversations among world leaders were captured by microphones during the summit.
One notable moment involved Meloni revealing that she had quit smoking. When German Chancellor Friedrich Merz asked whether she had smoked that morning, Meloni replied that she had not smoked since May 1.
The revelation prompted congratulations from several leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
World Cup and football discussions
With the FIFA World Cup underway across North America, football also became a frequent topic of conversation among leaders.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reportedly joked about Cape Verde's surprising draw with Spain, while other leaders discussed recent football results and club competitions.
US President Donald Trump also drew attention by discussing UFC events and praising UFC president Dana White during informal conversations.
Another hot-mic moment involved Trump referencing Greenland during a conversation with European Council President Antonio Costa. The remark revived memories of previous controversies surrounding Trump's comments about the strategically important Arctic territory.
A summit full of gifts and humour
The lighter atmosphere continued during gift exchanges among leaders.
French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly presented personalised bicycles to fellow G7 leaders to promote the 2027 UCI Cycling World Championships in the French Alps.
Meanwhile, Merz gifted Trump a German national football team jersey bearing his name and the number 47, prompting smiles and photographs among attendees.
Despite discussions on major international issues, it was the brief exchange between Modi and Meloni that dominated online conversations. Within hours, hashtags related to 'Melodi' began trending again, with users sharing clips, memes and reactions celebrating one of diplomacy's most unexpected viral friendships.
Published: 17 Jun 2026, 11:07 am IST
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