Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Venice on Friday to protest the arrival of the US Ambassador to Italy, Tilman Fertitta, who docked in the historic city aboard his personal superyacht. The ambassador's visit is part of a tour intended to mark 250 years of American independence.
Fertitta's yacht, a 117-meter (384-foot) vessel estimated to be worth $450 million (€393 million), dwarfed the surrounding historic buildings along the lagoon. Police boats patrolled the waters, and riot police secured waterfront access points.
Approximately 300 protesters participated in the rally in the city's center, holding signs with slogans such as "Fertitta must go," "Make America Go Away," "Venice must not be used," and "No space for billionaires." Tensions briefly flared as police prevented demonstrators from reaching the yacht, leading to protesters shouting "Shame!" at the ambassador, the mayor, and law enforcement.
The ambassador's stop in Venice is part of the "Freedom 250 Coastal Diplomacy" tour, which spans multiple Italian coastal regions aboard his superyacht. Fertitta, who has Sicilian roots, described the initiative as a celebration of "our shared history, our economic partnership, and the cultural bonds that make the US-Italy relationship so special." While specific meeting details in Venice remain undisclosed, he is expected to attend the city's traditional Festa del Redentore festival on Saturday.
The US Embassy in Italy confirmed that Fertitta is personally financing the entire trip. Fertitta is recognized as one of America's 100 wealthiest individuals, with a net worth of $11.3 billion, amassed through his management of restaurants, hotels, and casinos. He also owns the Houston basketball team.
Despite limited political experience, Fertitta has been a long-time supporter of Republican causes and a donor to former President Donald Trump's Save America PAC. His appointment as envoy to Italy was consistent with a pattern of Trump selecting donors and allies for ambassadorial roles in Europe.
Activists on Friday voiced opposition not only to the ambassador's ostentatious display of wealth but also to the policies of the Trump administration, including the war in Iran. Stella Morion, an organizer, told the AP that it was "arrogant to think he can do what he wants in a city that is ever more sold to the single culture of tourism." She added, "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."
This protest follows similar actions by some of the same groups, who demonstrated against the wedding of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to Lauren Sanchez last year.
Criticism also targeted the extensive security measures implemented by Italian authorities during Fertitta's visit. Luana Zanella, leader of the Left Alliance in the Italian parliament, and Green Party co-spokesperson Angelo Bonelli decried the deployment of police resources as "sheer madness." In a joint statement, the deputies noted, "Hundreds of officers across the country—from Palermo to Ravenna, from Catania to Ancona—have been turned into his bodyguards, diverted from their duties to serve as a free escort for the U.S. ambassador's private vessel."
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