Donald Trump Jr. is being accused of breaking Italian and European Union environmental protection laws for illegally hunting rare geese near Venice, Italy in December 2024, in response to two Italian Green party lawmakers.
Andrea Zanoni, a member of the Veneto regional assembly, and Luana Zanella, a national parliamentarian, have filed two separate parliamentary questions urging regional and national authorities to take motion against the alleged offence.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Zanoni said he had seen footage of Trump, the eldest son of U.S. President Donald Trump, hunting in a Natura 2000 EU conservation zone within the Venice lagoon, standing near a dead ruddy shelduck, which is a protected species.
“The video shows Trump Jr. with a ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) within the foreground, a duck that could be very rare in all of Europe and guarded by the EU Birds Directive and by the Italian law on the protection of untamed fauna. The killing or holding of this animal is punishable by law and subsequently in response to Italian law it constitutes a precise crime of the judiciary’s competence,” Zanoni said.
“Trump Jr. knew he couldn’t hunt in Italy. Only residents of one among the Italian regions can hunt in Italy because you might want to have a hunting card, which is issued by law by the region of residence of the applicant.
“I even have submitted an interrogation for the Region to report on what sanctions it intends to impose, similar to suspending or revoking the authorization towards the Venatoria wildlife company and people answerable for acts in violation of Italian and European standards.”
Zanoni said he saw Trump, 48, holding the rare duck within the marshlands near Venice in a now-deleted six-minute video from Field Ethos, an out of doors activities brand co-founded by Trump. The brand describes itself as a “premiere lifestyle publication for the unapologetic man.”
Within the video, reposted to numerous social media accounts, Trump could be seen in a camouflage suit holding a rifle and firing shots upwards.
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“Great morning. Lot of wigeon, teal. This is definitely an unusual duck for the realm. Not even sure what it’s in English but incredible shoot,” Trump says, describing his hunting spoils.
Trump goes on to explain the foggy morning atmosphere and adds, “With the fog, while the motion was slower they were right within the decoy spread. Once they saw the decoys they only got here right in.”
In line with Reuters, a voiceover within the Field Ethos YouTube video says the expedition took place on private land, and that hunting there occurs not more than once every week and precautions are taken to respect the local environment.
A shorter version of the video was posted to YouTube by Field Ethos on Dec. 31, 2024. Media reported that Trump was in Venice in December for a “romantic vacation” along with his girlfriend, Bettina Anderson.
(L-R) Tiffany Trump, her husband Michael Boulos, Bettina Anderson and Donald Trump Jr. walk inside after watching fireworks at Trump National Golf Club Washington DC in Sterling, Va., on Jan. 18, 2025.
ALEX BRANDON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Anderson shared images through the trip to Italy, including a photograph of a gondola ride and a picture of a pair of Frette slippers, that are made in Italy.
Bettina Anderson shares a picture of Frette slippers.
Bettina Anderson/Instagram
Bettina Anderson shares a picture from a gondola ride.
Bettina Anderson/Instagram
Trump Jr. and Field Ethos haven’t commented publicly on the allegations.
—With files from Reuters
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