U.S. ambassador to Italy faces protests in Venice
The billionaire U.S. ambassador to Italy was met by protests when he arrived in Venice on Friday aboard his luxury yacht as part of a coastal diplomacy tour marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, reports BritPanorama.
Hospitality mogul Tilman Fertitta’s arrival has been perceived by many Italians as an unwelcome display of American wealth and influence during a period when they view the Trump administration as disrupting the post-World War II international order.
His so-called Coastal Diplomacy 250 tour covers 13 Italian coastal regions and is described as celebrating “our shared history, our economic partnership, and the cultural bonds that make the U.S.-Italy relationship so special,” according to a social media post from Fertitta.
In Venice, the same groups that protested last year during Jeff Bezos’s wedding have mobilized against Fertitta’s presence aboard the 384-foot luxury yacht, Boardwalk, equipped with two helipads, swimming pools, and a spa.
On July 4, protest organizers displayed a banner stating “Venezia non si USA,” a wordplay combining the phrase “Venice is not to be used” with the acronym USA. The banner’s length matched that of Fertitta’s yacht, emphasizing what protesters termed his “arrogance.”
“It’s arrogant to think he can do what he wants in a city that is ever more sold to the single culture of tourism,” organizer Stella Morion told The Associated Press. She expressed concerns over U.S. international politics, particularly the strikes on Iran that have led to rising energy prices.
“It is the umpteenth slap in the face of a city and all of the people in Venice who struggle to reach the end of the month due to an increase in prices caused by Trump’s war,” she added.
Fertitta has declined an interview request regarding the tour and the forthcoming protest.
Since being sworn in as ambassador to Italy in 2025, Fertitta has reinforced his presence within the hospitality industry, which includes restaurants, hotels, and casinos, alongside owning the NBA’s Houston Rockets. His official biography cites a net worth of $11.3 billion, and Forbes recognizes him as one of the 100 wealthiest Americans.
No details have been disclosed about Fertitta’s meetings in Venice; however, he is expected to attend the prestigious Redentore festival on Saturday, which celebrates the end of the plague in 1576 with fireworks over St. Mark’s Basin.
Before arriving in Venice, he visited the Sicilian port town of Cefalu, linked to his family’s heritage, and held discussions with the governor in Palermo. Other stops included the Calabrian port of Le Castella and the Adriatic coastline.
Fertitta’s ambassadorial term involves navigating the cooling relationship between Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Trump, who has publicly criticized her on social media.
Meloni, once viewed as an ally in Europe on immigration issues, did not attend the 250th celebrations held at the U.S. Embassy.
The reception Fertitta encounters amid his diplomatic mission illustrates the ongoing tensions surrounding U.S. influence in Europe and highlights the complexities of international relations borne from contemporary American policies.
