US President Donald Trump has dropped another clanger, claiming to be “great friends” with Luciano Pavarotti – without seeming to realise that the legendary Italian tenor died 10 years ago.

^{Donald Trump strikes a bum note in singing Luciano Pavarotti’s praises}

The blunder occurred last week when Trump met with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Fentiloni at the White House. During a joint press conference, Trump delivered a speech praising Italy’s scientific and artistic achievement, in which he appeared to go off script, adding an aside about his friendship with Pavarotti.

Reading from notes, Trump said: “Through the ages your country has been a beacon of artistic and scientific achievement that continues today, from Venice to Florence, from Verdi to Pavarotti – friend of mine, great friend of mine.”

Aside from the fact that Pavarotti passed away in 2007, the tenor’s family may well be surprised to hear the US President’s comment. Last year, they asked Trump to stop using Pavarotti’s recording of Puccini’s famous aria Nessun Dorma at his election rallies, saying the singer would not have endorsed his campaign. In a statement, Pavarotti’s widow and daughters said:...