In a social media sensation, a selfie of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni has taken the internet by storm, giving rise to the trending hashtag ‘Melodi’ on various platforms, including X (formerly Twitter).
The viral photograph, taken during the United Nations’ ‘Conference of the Parties’ on climate, known as COP28, held in Dubai, received an overwhelming response, accumulating over 52.3K responses by Saturday morning.
Modi and Meloni, who met during the climate summit, showcased their camaraderie as the 46-year-old Italian leader, well-versed in social media trends, clicked the selfie and captioned it with ‘#Melodi,’ derived by combining the surnames of both leaders.
Meeting friends is always a delight. https://t.co/4PWqZZaDKC
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 2, 2023
In response, PM Modi took to social media on Saturday afternoon, writing, “Meeting friends is always a delight.”
The internet erupted with excitement, flooding social media with memes and creative posts. Meloni’s picture garnered significant attention, amassing 21.7 million views and over 281k likes.
Netizens used popular culture references, such as the viral trending song ‘just looking like a WOW’ by Yashraj Mukhate, and Bollywood dialogues to describe the selfie. Some enthusiasts even dubbed it the “selfie of the year.”
Amid the online buzz, a section of internet users suggested that PM Modi should invite Meloni to India for his 2024 Lok Sabha campaign, playfully challenging “an Italian by an Italian.” This cheeky reference subtly alluded to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Italian connection, with his mother, Sonia Gandhi, reportedly born near Italy’s Vicenza.
The duo’s friendship became noticeable during the G20 summit in India earlier this year. Videos of Modi and Meloni interacting at the summit went viral across various social media platforms, generating memes and posts that received millions of views and hundreds of thousands of likes. The online community appreciated their chemistry, with some clips featuring Bollywood movie songs overlaid on the interactions.
The Modi-Meloni selfie and subsequent social media frenzy not only highlighted the diplomatic ties between India and Italy but also showcased the power of social media in shaping public discourse and perceptions of political leaders. As the friendship between the two leaders continues to capture the online audience, it adds a dynamic and engaging element to international diplomacy in the digital age.
