Ambassador Fertitta welcomes Italy's leaders to Villa Taverna in Rome.Italian premier Giorgia Meloni attended celebrations at the Rome residence of the US ambassador to Italy on Wednesday to mark Independence Day, ahead of the 4 July holiday.Meloni was joined at Villa Taverna by deputy premiers Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini, the latter of whom sported a red tie in what many perceived as a nod to US president Donald Trump. Also present among the more than 2,000 guests was senate speaker Ignazio La Russa along with numerous government ministers and officials from Meloni's right-wing coalition government. Members of the centre-left opposition were thin on the ground, with the notable exception of Movimento 5 Stelle leader Giuseppe Conte. “It’s my first Independence Day here and I hope to celebrate many more,” said the new US ambassador to Italy Tilman J. Fertitta in his opening speech in which he expressed great appreciation for Meloni on behalf of the US government. L’Ambasciatore @USAmbItaly Fertitta: “C’è un solo Paese in cui avrei accettato di fare l’ambasciatore — e quel Paese è l’Italia. È un onore essere qui, americano di origini italiane, a servire come Ambasciatore degli Stati Uniti nel Paese delle mie radici. L'accoglienza che… pic.twitter.com/RycrGKQF6u — Ambasciata U.S.A. (@AmbasciataUSA) July 2, 2025 Ambassador Fertitta, 68, owns the Houston Rockets basketball team as well as hospitality giant Landry’s and the Golden Nugget chain of luxury hotels and casinos, and is known to many as the host of CNBC reality television show Billion Dollar Buyer. Significantly, the ambassador said that the US consulate in Florence would not be closing, following media reports about its imminent closure as part of a sweeping reorganisation of the state department by the Trump administration. "More than 40,000 American students choose Italy as a destination" - Fertitta said in his speech - "Many of these students go to Florence: the Consulate General in Florence will continue to support them for many more years to come." "We have spoken with President Trump and the administration about how important it is to keep the Consulate General office in Florence operational," he added. Giorgia Meloni, Ignazio La Russa, Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini at Villa Taverna. Photo Wanted in Rome.   "My great-grandfather left Italy in 1887 to build a new life in America" - the ambassador said - "That’s one of the reasons I’m here tonight. And like me, more than 17 million Americans today are proud of their Italian roots." As well as it being the first 4 July celebration in Rome for the new US ambassador, it was the first time for Meloni to attend the prestigious event since she became prime minister in 2022. “Today, Italy and the United States speak the same language on many issues" - Meloni said - "This is a positive element, especially in the complex international context we are facing". Underlining the "strength, the solidity of the relationship" between Italy and the US, Meloni said: "They are sister nations, united by a privileged relationship that is nurtured day after day and that clearly owes a lot to the more than 20 million Italian-Americans who have contributed to the prosperity of the United States for generations." Meloni also said she was grateful to Trump for choosing Fertitta as US ambassador to Italy. "We have built an extraordinary relationship from the beginning: Tilman Fertitta is a friend of Italy and together we can do very important work for our nations." Following the speeches, guests were treated to a barbecue with hamburgers, hot dogs and cocktails in the gardens of Villa Taverna, with fireworks bringing the party to a close. Photo ANSA

Italian premier Giorgia Meloni attended celebrations at the Rome residence of the US ambassador to Italy on Wednesday to mark Independence Day, ahead of the 4 July holiday. Meloni was joined at Villa Taverna by deputy premiers Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini, the latter of whom sported a red tie in what many perceived as a nod to US president Donald Trump. Also present among the more than 2,000 guests was senate speaker Ignazio La Russa along with numerous government ministers and officials from Meloni's right-wing coalition government. Members of the centre-left opposition were thin on the ground, with the notable exception of Movimento 5 Stelle leader Giuseppe Conte. “It’s my first Independence Day here and I hope to celebrate many more,” said the in his opening speech in which he expressed great appreciation for Meloni on behalf of the US government. L’Ambasciatore Fertitta: “C’è un solo Paese in cui avrei accettato di fare l’ambasciatore — e quel Paese è l’Italia. È un onore essere qui, americano di origini italiane, a servire come Ambasciatore degli Stati Uniti nel Paese delle mie radici. L'accoglienza che… — Ambasciata U.S.A. (@AmbasciataUSA) Ambassador Fertitta, 68, owns the Houston Rockets basketball team as well as hospitality giant Landry’s and the Golden Nugget chain of luxury hotels and casinos, and is known to many as the host of CNBC reality television show Billion Dollar Buyer. Significantly, the ambassador said that the US consulate in Florence would not be closing, following as part of a sweeping reorganisation of the state department by the Trump administration. "More than 40,000 American students choose Italy as a destination" - Fertitta said in his speech - "Many of these students go to Florence: the Consulate General in Florence will continue to support them for many more years to come." "We have spoken with President Trump and the administration about how important it is to keep the Consulate General office in Florence operational," he added.
Giorgia Meloni, Ignazio La Russa, Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini at Villa Taverna. Photo Wanted in Rome.   "My great-grandfather left Italy in 1887 to build a new life in America" - the ambassador said - "That’s one of the reasons I’m here tonight. And like me, more than 17 million Americans today are proud of their Italian roots." As well as it being the first 4 July celebration in Rome for the new US ambassador, it was the first time for Meloni to attend the prestigious event since she became prime minister in 2022. “Today, Italy and the United States speak the same language on many issues" - - "This is a positive element, especially in the complex international context we are facing". Underlining the "strength, the solidity of the relationship" between Italy and the US, Meloni said: "They are sister nations, united by a privileged relationship that is nurtured day after day and that clearly owes a lot to the more than 20 million Italian-Americans who have contributed to the prosperity of the United States for generations." Meloni also said she was grateful to Trump for choosing Fertitta as US ambassador to Italy. "We have built an extraordinary relationship from the beginning: Tilman Fertitta is a friend of Italy and together we can do very important work for our nations." Following the speeches, guests were treated to a barbecue with hamburgers, hot dogs and cocktails in the gardens of Villa Taverna, with fireworks bringing the party to a close. Photo ANSA