Protesters confront US envoy’s yacht during Venice diplomacy tour

Several hundred demonstrators marched in Venice on Friday against the arrival of U.S. Ambassador Tilman Fertitta’s luxury yacht, and the protest briefly turned physical when riot police blocked access to the vessel. The clash showed how Fertitta’s “Coastal Diplomacy 250” tour has become a flashpoint for critics of American wealth, tourism pressure and the Trump administration’s foreign policy, according to The Associated Press.

Fertitta, a billionaire hospitality executive who was sworn in as ambassador to Italy in 2025, moored the 117-meter Boardwalk in St. Mark’s Basin. AP reported that police boats surrounded the yacht and that officers accompanied the marchers as they moved through the city carrying inflatable beach toys, beach balls and protest signs.

One banner read “Venezia non si USA,” a wordplay that means “Venice is not to be used,” with “USA” capitalized. Other signs included “Make America Read Again” and “Oligarch in saor,” a reference to a Venetian sardine dish.

According to AP, demonstrators raised their arms as they reached two lines of riot police near the yacht, signaling that they were peaceful. Police used shields to push the crowd back after protesters refused to stop, and inflatable toys were thrown into the air. Afterward, protesters shouted “Shame!” at Fertitta, the mayor and police.

Fertitta has described the tour, which is scheduled to visit 13 Italian coastal regions, as a celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence. In a social media post cited by AP, he said the trip was meant to honor shared history, economic ties and cultural links between the United States and Italy.

Fertitta declined AP’s request for an interview about the tour and the protest, but he issued a statement defending peaceful protest. “I like Italians, we Americans respect freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest,” he said, adding that the tour celebrates U.S. independence and long friendship with Italy.

Many of the groups involved in Friday’s protest were also active in demonstrations tied to the 2025 wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez in Venice, AP reported. On July 4, organizers displayed a banner as long as Fertitta’s yacht to show what they called “the dimensions of his arrogance.”

Organizer Stella Morion told AP that the yacht’s presence reflected a city increasingly given over to tourism. She also linked the protest to opposition to President Donald Trump’s international policies, including U.S. strikes on Iran, which she said had pushed up energy prices. Activist Tommaso Cacciari called the sight of the six-story yacht “gross,” while Emanuele Lepore said it was shameful to see such a large vessel in the lagoon after years of campaigning against cruise ships in Venice’s historic center.

Fertitta owns Fertitta Entertainment, made his fortune in restaurants, hotels and casinos, and owns the NBA’s Houston Rockets. His official biography lists his net worth at $11.3 billion and says Forbes ranks him among the 100 wealthiest Americans.

AP reported that Fertitta is expected to attend Venice’s Redentore festival on Saturday, though details of his meetings in the city have not been released. His previous stops included Cefalu in Sicily, where his family roots date to 1566, Palermo, Le Castella in Calabria, and the coasts of Puglia and the Adriatic.

This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.