Several hundred protesters marched on Friday in Venice to oppose the arrival of Tilman Fertitta, the billionaire American ambassador to Italy, as his luxury yacht berthed in the city. As the demonstrators neared the vessel, they briefly clashed with riot police and were pushed back. Activists described Fertitta’s visit as an unwelcome display of American wealth and influence, arguing that the Trump administration has been reshaping the post-Second World War international order in ways many Italians disapprove of. Protesters clash with riot policeThe marchers shouted “Shame!” as they approached a double line of riot police guarding access to the superyacht. Protesters had raised their arms to indicate they would remain peaceful, but police used their shields to force them back when the demonstrators did not stop. Inflatable beach toys and water items were thrown during the clash. After the confrontation, protesters directed “Shame!” at Fertitta, the mayor and the police. The demonstrators carried inflatable water toys and beach balls behind a banner reading “Venezia non si USA”, a wordplay on “Venezia non è USA” meaning “Venice is not for the US”, with the letters USA capitalised. Picture courtesy of AP Security for the Coastal Diplomacy stopFertitta arrived earlier in the day, mooring in St. Mark’s Basin as part of a coastal diplomacy tour marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. Police boats were positioned around the yacht, and a heavy security presence accompanied the protest. The yacht, which dwarfed buildings along the lagoon, featured a large security cordon. Protesters also held signs including “Make America Read Again” and “Oligarch in saor”, referring to “saor”, a Venetian dish made with sardines. The tour, labelled “Coastal Diplomacy 250”, covers 13 Italian coastal regions by superyacht. Fertitta said online that it is meant to celebrate shared history, economic partnership and cultural ties underpinning US-Italy relations. Fertitta declined a request for an interview about the tour and the planned demonstration. In a brief statement, he said he supports the right to protest peacefully, adding that the programme had allowed him to meet Italians from different walks of life while celebrating 250 years of US independence and long-standing friendship with Italy. Opposition from groups linked to earlier protestsIn Venice, some of the same activist groups that took part in demonstrations against the wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez last year also mobilised against Fertitta’s arrival. Fertitta’s yacht, the 117-metre Boardwalk, is described as having two helipads, two swimming pools and a spa and gym. On 4 July, organisers unfurled a banner as long as Fertitta’s yacht to illustrate what they called “the dimensions of his arrogance”. Activists later expressed alarm at the scale of the vessel in the lagoon, with one protester describing it as “gross”. Emanuele Lepore said the sight of the yacht triggered anger, pointing to a long-running campaign to ban cruise ships from the Giudecca Canal and parts of the historic centre. He argued that the message was clear that “new oligarchs” were being allowed to travel and, in his view, normalise “war and fascism” with local backing. Fertitta’s role and next stopFertitta was sworn in as ambassador to Italy in 2025. His fortune is linked to the hospitality industry, including restaurants, hotels and casinos. He also owns the Houston Rockets. His official biography lists his net worth at $11.3 billion and says Forbes ranks him among the 100 wealthiest Americans. Details of which people he will meet in Venice have not been released. He is expected to attend the Redentore festival on Saturday, which commemorates the end of the plague in 1576 and includes fireworks over St. Mark’s Basin. Before arriving in Venice, Fertitta stopped in Cefalù in Sicily, where his family roots trace back to 1566, and met the governor in Palermo. His route also included the Calabrian port of Le Castella, as well as cruising along the coasts of Puglia and the Adriatic en route to Venice. Political analyst Giovanni Orsina said the image of an ambassador travelling along the Italian coast in a diplomacy trip was unusual, noting that such travel is typically not done with an ambassador’s own yacht and resources. Fertitta’s tenure comes as relations between Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Trump have cooled, after the US President made a series of social media attacks on her. Meloni, previously seen as a close ally of Trump in Europe on issues including immigration, did not attend the 250th celebrations at the US embassy. Join the discussion? 18 July 2026
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