Around 300 protesters gathered in Venice on July 17 as U.S. Ambassador Tilman Fertitta arrived aboard his 117-metre superyacht Boardwalk, drawing criticism of President Donald Trump’s policies and the billionaire diplomat’s unconventional style of engagement with Italy.
Fertitta, a Houston businessman appointed by Trump and confirmed by the Senate 83–14 in April 2025, is conducting a two-month “Freedom 250 Coastal Diplomacy Tour” along Italy’s coast to mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence and strengthen U.S.-Italy ties. The Boardwalk, valued at $450 million and built by German shipyard Lürssen, features swimming pools, mini-golf, and dual helipads.
Activists marched through Venice’s historic centre holding posters with slogans including “Fertitta must go,” “Make America go away,” and “No space for billionaires,” according to Reuters. Police stopped the roughly 300 demonstrators from advancing toward the waterfront promenade where the yacht docked at Riva dei Sette Martiri, resulting in minor scuffles.
Protesters objected to Trump’s policies, which they said were fuelling conflicts and driving global economic instability, according to Reuters. Some demonstrators also expressed support for the Palestinian people, accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Activists and organisers, including researcher Stella Faye, called the yacht tour an unusual way to conduct diplomacy. “It’s very emblematic of the political model that Trump is trying to build joining political and economic power,” Faye told the Financial Times.
Italy’s Green and Left Alliance (AVS) raised concerns about the security operation required to protect the ambassador and his vessel. The party accused the government of diverting hundreds of police from public safety duties to act as “bodyguards” for Fertitta during his tour, according to Reuters. Rome has not disclosed the cost of the security operation, though officials said the Vienna Convention obligates Italy to ensure the safety and dignity of foreign ambassadors, including through “exceptional protection” when ambassadors are deemed high-risk targets.
The Boardwalk’s arrival in Venice coincided with the city’s annual Festa del Redentore festival, which celebrates the end of a devastating plague in 1576 and draws thousands of residents and visitors. The yacht docked at a prime public viewing spot normally reserved for festival fireworks, the Financial Times reported. Venice residents have long complained about the impact of mass tourism and the city’s use as a backdrop for high-profile events, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s wedding in June 2025, which also triggered protests.
The U.S. Embassy in Rome said before the tour began that Fertitta would personally fund the Boardwalk’s voyage. The ambassador, whose net worth is estimated by Forbes at nearly $11 billion, is inviting politicians, business leaders, and military personnel to visit him aboard the vessel. Fertitta’s grandparents emigrated to the U.S. from the Sicilian town of Cefalù, which he also visited during the tour.
The visit comes amid tension between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who recently denied his assertion that she had “begged” for a joint photo at a Group of Seven summit. Fertitta has rejected suggestions of a rift, telling the Financial Times that Trump and Meloni have a strong personal rapport. Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told the FT that Fertitta was playing an important role as an interlocutor between Meloni’s government and the Trump administration, responding to Rome’s concerns in an “active, sensitive and above all, consistently positive manner.”
Sources
- Reuters — protest details, number of demonstrators, slogans, police response, activist objections to Trump policies, AVS accusations about police diversion
- Financial Times — yacht value ($450 million), superyacht specifications (swimming pools, mini-golf, helipads), Stella Faye quote, Festa del Redentore details, Trump-Meloni tensions, Tajani statement
- NBC News — billionaire ambassador description and protest context
- AP News — protest confirmation and yacht details
