Environmental organizations and Italian politicians call for action against the former president's son after a video surfaces showing him hunting protected species.
Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of former U.S. President Donald Trump, is at the center of a new controversy following the release of a video showing him hunting birds in a lagoon in Venice, Italy. According to environmental groups and local politicians, the footage depicts Trump Jr. hunting red-crested pochards, a species classified as protected due to its vulnerable status in Europe.
Reactions and Legal Complaints
The video has sparked outrage among conservation organizations, which have urged Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to take action against the businessman. Andrea Zanoni, a regional councilor from the Green Party, has condemned the act and announced plans to file a formal complaint.
"In the footage, Trump Jr. can be seen holding a red-crested pochard, an extremely rare duck in Europe, which is protected under the European Union’s Birds Directive as well as Italian wildlife protection laws," Zanoni stated in a social media post. He described the act as a "crime" and demanded a thorough investigation.
Potential Sanctions
Beyond the legal complaint, Zanoni has called for intervention from Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin and questioned whether Trump Jr. could face penalties, including the revocation of his Italian hunting license. "They can't just come here and act like big shots," the councilor emphasized, urging authorities to enforce the law without exceptions.
The video was reportedly filmed in the Pierimpie Valley, south of Venice, a special conservation area protected under European regulations, known as the Lower Central Lagoon of Venice.
Social Media Backlash
The incident has sparked a wave of criticism on social media, with numerous users condemning the act and urging Italian authorities to take legal action. "I hope the justice system acts firmly and prosecutes both those responsible and those who enabled them," one user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
So far, neither Trump Jr. nor Italian authorities have issued official statements regarding the matter.
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