Adnkronos (Adnkronos) –
"Pavarotti was a friend of mine. I could have entrusted the naval blockade to the Italians, but you would do it too violently..." Donald Trump hosts a Columbus Day event at the White House. The US president claims credit for reinstating the holiday in honor of Christopher Columbus, to the applause of the audience, naturally composed largely of Italian Americans.
Tenor Christopher Macchio's performance, which opened the event by singing the American national anthem, offered the president the opportunity to celebrate Luciano Pavarotti. "For me, Christopher is on Pavarotti's level," he said. "He says no: 'Pavarotti is the maestro.' Pavarotti was a friend of mine, the greatest diva of all time. A male diva, on a level no woman" could have reached.
During his speech, Trump also dwelled on the crisis in the Middle East and the standoff with Iran.
"We control the Strait of Hormuz; yesterday we released 28 million barrels. Nothing gets through unless we want it to. I could have entrusted the naval blockade to the Italians, they would have done it better perhaps... but you would do it with too much violence...", he says with an ironic reference to the "strong-armed tactics" used by Italian-American immigrants.
Judging by the laughter, the joke is appreciated.
international/foreign
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