by InTrieste
all photographs courtesy of Ambasciata USA
U.S. Ambassador to Italy Tilman J. Fertitta welcomed top Italian political leaders to Villa Taverna on Wednesday evening for a reception marking American Independence Day. The event, held ahead of the July 4 holiday, drew more than 2,000 guests to the U.S. diplomatic residence in Rome.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was among the high-profile attendees, joined by Deputy Prime Ministers Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini. Senate Speaker Ignazio La Russa and several government ministers from Meloni’s right-wing coalition were also present. Notably, Salvini wore a bright red tie, interpreted by some as a gesture of support for former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Opposition figures were largely absent from the event, with the exception of Giuseppe Conte, leader of the populist Movimento 5 Stelle and a former prime minister.
In his first Independence Day address since taking up his post, Ambassador Fertitta expressed his admiration for Prime Minister Meloni and emphasized the strong ties between the two nations. “It’s my first Independence Day here and I hope to celebrate many more,” he said.
Fertitta, 68, is a Texas billionaire known for his ownership of the NBA’s Houston Rockets and hospitality giant Landry’s, which includes the Golden Nugget chain of hotels and casinos. He also hosted CNBC’s reality television series Billion Dollar Buyer.
During his remarks, Fertitta addressed recent speculation about the future of the U.S. consulate in Florence. He reassured guests that the consulate would remain open, despite media reports suggesting its closure under a proposed reorganization by the Trump-aligned wing of the U.S. State Department.
The evening at Villa Taverna underscored the continuing diplomatic engagement between the United States and Italy, with symbolic gestures and political undertones punctuating the celebration of American independence on foreign soil.
