Green lawmakers claim the U.S. president’s son shot a rare duck in an EU conservation zone.
Two Italian Green lawmakers accused Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of U.S. President Donald Trump, of illegally hunting a protected bird species in the Venice Lagoon and urged authorities to take action.
Andrea Zanoni, a member of the Veneto regional assembly, said he had seen footage of Trump Jr. hunting in the EU conservation zone.
“The video shows Trump Jr. with a ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) in the foreground, a duck that is very rare in all of Europe and [is] protected by the EU Birds Directive and Italian law … The killing or holding of this animal is punishable by law,” Zanoni wrote in a post on Facebook.
“I have filed a question to expose the facts. Veneto and Italy are not the property of the U.S.,” he added.
Undated footage published by Field Ethos, an outdoor brand co-founded by Trump Jr., shows him shooting ducks from a foxhole in the Venice Lagoon. In one clip, Trump Jr. points out an orange duck, saying: “This is actually a rather uncommon duck for the area,” adding “not even sure what it is in English, but incredible shoot.”
Italian media reported Trump Jr. was in Venice in December.
Hunting in Italy is legal but strictly regulated. Only Italian residents with a regional hunting permit are allowed to hunt. “Trump Jr. in Italy would not be allowed to hunt,” Zanoni said.
Following Zanoni’s request, Green MP Luana Zanella escalated the matter to the environment ministry. Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said he was “waiting for a report to know more and have all the information,” ANSA reported.
POLITICO has reached out to Trump Jr. for comment.