American Ambassador Tilman Fertitta faced a vocal reception in Venice on Friday as protesters gathered to mark his arrival in the city. The ambassador, who is currently conducting a “Coastal Diplomacy 250” tour to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, moored his super yacht in St. Mark’s Basin. The tour, which spans 13 Italian coastal regions, aims to highlight shared history, economic partnerships, and cultural bonds between the two nations.
Demonstrators greeted the vessel with inflatable water toys and beach balls, brandishing signs such as “Make America Read Again” and “Oligarch in saor,” a reference to the traditional Venetian dish, sarde in saor. Another sign read “Venezia non si USA,” a wordplay meaning “Venice is not to be used.” Several hundred people participated in the march, which resulted in brief clashes with riot police as the group neared the yacht. Demonstrators raised their hands to signal they were peaceful, yet police deployed shields to push the crowd back when they refused to stop moving toward the vessel.
Organizer Stella Morion criticized the visit as an arrogant display of American wealth in a city already struggling with the pressures of mass tourism. Beyond local concerns, protesters voiced strong opposition to the international policies of the Trump administration, specifically citing US strikes on Iran. Morion argued that these actions have led to rising energy prices, which she described as a “slap in the face” to Venetians struggling to make ends meet.
Following the confrontations, protesters shouted “Shame!” at the ambassador, the mayor, and the police. In a statement, Fertitta expressed support for the right to protest, noting that Americans respect freedom of speech and peaceful assembly. While specific meeting details for his time in Venice remain undisclosed, the ambassador is expected to attend the Redentore festival on Saturday, an event traditionally held to commemorate the end of the plague in 1576.
“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.
