Italian government hosts US Independence Day celebration at Rome’s Villa Taverna

On July 4, the United States Embassy’s official residence, Villa Taverna in Rome, hosted a celebration attended by roughly 2,000 guests. The event, organized by the American ambassador Tilman Fertitta, brought together a large delegation of Italian government officials, including Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, and several ministers such as Francesco Lollobrigida, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Adolfo Urso, Giuseppe Valditara, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, and Guido Crosetto. Tajani’s speech highlighted the historic ties between Italy and the United States, while Salvini reiterated the durability of the bilateral friendship. The Italian prime minister was absent, sending a delegation instead. Opposition parties were minimally represented, with only a few members of the Five Star Movement, the Democratic Party, and centrist groups present. Fertitta stated that Italy‑US relations are at their highest level and that routine cooperation on defence, politics and trade continues unchanged.