On the evening of the 17th, US Ambassador to Italy, Tilman Fertitta, arrived in the iconic city of Venice aboard his private luxury yacht—only to be greeted by a crowd of about 300 local protesters.
Ambassador Fertitta’s private luxury yacht. Photo via British media
As reporters observed on the 18th, clashes broke out between demonstrators and riot police. Officers shoved protesters, while activists blasted President Donald Trump and the US government through megaphones and hurled inflatable pool toys at the police. The irony? Fertitta’s Venice stop was the latest leg of his so-called “coastal diplomacy” tour across Italy. This summer, he plans to visit 13 Italian ports with his family and embassy staff, meeting local business leaders and celebrities—all while celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence.
But tensions between the US and Italy are running high. Italy has flatly refused to let the US use its military bases for strikes against Iran, and Trump has been trading barbs with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni online. On top of that, Fertitta’s billionaire status rubs many Italians the wrong way, especially as they struggle with the cost-of-living crisis. In Venice, protesters waved signs reading “Venice is Not for Sale,” targeting the casino and restaurant mogul behind the luxury yacht.
According to a local union official, the decision to welcome Fertitta’s superyacht during a festive period is a “disgrace” that clashes with environmental protection and social sustainability values.
To make matters worse, Fertitta’s visit coincided with Venice’s grand “Festa del Redentore” celebration. His superyacht was parked right where locals would normally gather to watch the holiday fireworks, effectively blocking the view. As one outlet put it, this was like “adding insult to injury.” Still, a US embassy spokesperson insisted the ambassador’s “coastal diplomacy” is going just fine.
Fertitta, worth nearly $11 billion according to Forbes, is a major donor and close ally of Trump. He became ambassador in 2025, but before politics, he was a hospitality tycoon—owning restaurants, hotels, casinos, and even the Houston Rockets NBA team. Since last summer, his official residence in Rome has been under renovation, so he and his family have been living on the yacht.