Dear fellow Italians, dear Italian-American friends, On this day we honor the values of liberty, democracy and equality which are the basis of the Italian Republic and of our friendship and alliance with the United States of America. A solid bond, passed on to us by our forefathers, that finds every day fresh nourishment.

President Trump’s recent meetings in Italy, his first European stop during his mission abroad, have confirmed our common commitment to growth, prosperity, peace and security on both sides of the Atlantic. First and foremost they reaffirmed the historic, cultural, economic and social ties that unite us.