Donald Trump Jr. Accused Of Hunting Rare Ducks In Italy After Incrimination Footage Surfaces

Donald Trump Jr. is facing allegations of hunting rare ducks in the Venice Lagoon in Italy after incriminating footage emerged.

Trump Jr. was accused of violating Italian and European Union environmental protection laws after allegedly shooting a rare ruddy shelduck, a species protected by Italian law, during a hunting trip in December 2024.

Environmental activists in Italy reacted negatively after they found a video showing Trump Jr. and a group of hunters shooting ducks in the Venice Lagoon.

The clip resurfaced on social media shows Trump Jr. crouched in tall grass next to a pile of dead ducks, talking about his prey.

Even though hunting is legal in Italy, it is strictly regulated, with particular rules on protected species and hunting permits, especially for non-residents.

Under Italian law, anyone who murders, captures or possesses protected birds can face no less than eight months in jail or a fine of over $2,000. 

The footage published by Field Ethos, a brand founded by Trump Jr., shows him shooting ducks in the Venice Lagoon. 

In the video, he points out an orange duck, saying it “is actually a rather uncommon duck for the area, not even sure what it is in English, but incredible shoot.”

Andrea Zanoni, a regional councilor in Venice, stated that the footage shows Trump Jr. with the body of a rare ruddy shelduck, whose Latin name is Tadorna ferruginea.

“This is a species protected throughout Europe by the EU Birds Directive and, of course, by Italian law, which criminally punishes its killing and possession,” Zanoni said. “Venice and Italy are not the property of the USA.”

“Video shows Trump J. with in the foreground a Casarca (Tadorna ferrugginea), a very rare duck in all of Europe and protected by the EU Uccelli directive and by the Italian law on the protection of wildlife, the L. 157/1992,” he also mentioned in a Facebook post. 

“The killing or detention of this animal is criminally sanctioned, and therefore, according to Italian law, it constitutes a precise crime of the judiciary’s competence,” the regional councilor declared.

Zanoni and Luana Zanella, a national parliamentarian from the Green Party, filed parliamentary questions encouraging Italian authorities to investigate the situation.

Andy Surabian, a spokesperson for Trump Jr., defended the hunting trip, claiming that the group had all the necessary permits and hunted in a lawfully designated area. 

“Don takes following all rules, regulations, and conservation on his hunts very seriously and plans on fully cooperating with any investigation,” Surabian stated.

The spokesperson also said Trump Jr. was not responsible for the duck, pointing out that it was unclear if it was accidentally shot by someone in his group, a different hunting party or killed elsewhere and found by a hunting dog.

Italian lawmakers launched an inquiry because the businessman had the rare duck among his quarry. 

Zanoni asserted that Trump Jr. might not have been allowed to hunt in Italy as a non-resident. 

“Trump Jr. in Italy would not be allowed to hunt,” he declared.

While the outcome of any legal action is still unclear, lawmakers want answers due to Trump Jr.’s public profile and supposed ties to the Italian government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

On Tuesday, Zanella declared that what Trump Jr. did “is morally despicable” and “a crime.”

“I am waiting for a report to know more and have all the information,” Italy’s Environment Minister, Gilberto Pichetto, stated.