Welcome to US Ambassador to Italy, Tilman J. Fertitta
New U.S. Ambassador Tilman J. Fertitta Begins His Tenure in Italy
Tilman J. Fertitta, a prominent American entrepreneur and philanthropist, has officially assumed his role as the United States Ambassador to Italy and San Marino. Arriving in Rome on May 5, 2025, Ambassador Fertitta presented his diplomatic credentials to President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale Palace, marking the formal beginning of his ambassadorship.
Fertitta’s appointment signals a renewed emphasis on strengthening the deep and historic ties between the United States and Italy. Shortly after his arrival, he met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, expressing his commitment to advancing transatlantic cooperation in key areas such as economic growth, energy security, and shared geopolitical priorities.
A Houston native with Sicilian roots, Fertitta is widely recognized as the CEO of Landry’s Inc. and owner of the NBA’s Houston Rockets. Though he will retain ownership of the Rockets, Fertitta announced his decision to step down from daily operations at Landry’s to focus fully on his diplomatic duties. In reflecting on his new role, he described the ambassadorship as “the most important job of my life,” underscoring his personal connection to Italy and his desire to serve with integrity and purpose.
Ambassador Fertitta’s arrival in Rome is being closely watched both in Washington and across Europe, as the United States continues to deepen its engagement with a key NATO ally and strategic partner in the Mediterranean region.
‘I’m so grateful to President Trump for having confidence in me to put me here in Italy and San Marino and carry out the mission here at these two great Republics. He had a lot of confidence for us to come over here and build even stronger relationships than we already have.
And I thank President Mattarella for his extremely warm welcome. What a wonderful president we have here! I look forward to continuing to work with him.”
Read Ambassador’s bio here: https://it.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador
