The arrival of US Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta in Venice aboard his 117-metre superyacht on 17 July triggered a protest by several hundred demonstrators and a brief confrontation with riot police. The vessel, part of a “Freedom 250 Coastal Diplomacy Tour” marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, was met by a police cordon and naval units as activists attempted to approach the mooring at Riva dei Sette Martiri. Minor scuffles broke out before the crowd dispersed, and no injuries were reported.

Protest organisers from social centres and local associations, including the Morion collective, framed the visit as an emblem of US policies under President Donald Trump and of Venice’s transformation into a backdrop for the ultra-wealthy. Chants of “Venezia non si USA” (Venice is not to be used/USA) and banners linked the protest to US military actions in Iran, support for Israel’s campaign in Gaza, and rising economic instability. In Rome, the Green and Left Alliance (AVS) formally challenged the government over the deployment of Italian police, coastguard, and financial police assets to secure a private vessel, describing the arrangement as “servilismo” (servility) and a diversion of resources from public safety.

The Italian government, through Deputy Minister Valentino Valentini, defended the security measures by invoking the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which obliges the host state to protect the person and dignity of accredited diplomats. Officials noted that the US embassy had notified Italian authorities of the tour itinerary in advance and that some stops included meetings with local officials. The episode unfolded against a backdrop of strained ties between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Trump, following public disagreements including Meloni’s denial of Trump’s claim that she had “begged” for a photo at a G7 summit. Ambassador Fertitta has publicly dismissed suggestions of a rift, asserting a strong personal rapport between the two leaders.

The protest and parliamentary scrutiny highlight the friction between diplomatic protocol and local sentiment in a city already grappling with overtourism and the symbolic weight of high-profile private events. The tour, which began in June and is scheduled to visit 13 Italian regions through late August, is expected to continue along the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian coasts. No change to the itinerary has been announced, and further demonstrations are anticipated at subsequent ports of call. The AVS interpellation remains under parliamentary consideration, with no immediate government commitment to alter the security arrangements.