Amid an increasingly contested April 25 — Italy’s Liberation Day, which marks the end of Nazi-Fascist occupation in 1945 and the restoration of democratic institutions — caught between historical memory, political tensions, and recurring waves of anti-American sentiment across Italian and European public opinion, one voice is trying to bring the focus back to fundamentals.
Not through ideology, but through the weight of a personal and collective story that spans the Atlantic. That voice belongs to John F. Calvelli, Chairman of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), the leading organization representing Italian Americans and a reference point for more than 20 million U.S. citizens of Italian descent. At a time of deep — even symbolic — polarization around Liberation Day commemorations, Formiche.net spoke with him.
Q: Chairman Calvelli, April 25 has once again become a focal point of political and cultural tension. What does remembering 1945 mean today?
A: It means remembering a precise historical fact: Italy was liberated from Nazism and Fascism also thanks to the decisive role of the United States, alongside the Italian partisans. That is a fixed point. We live today in a free democracy also because of the suffering and sacrifices of Americans in 1945. This should never be forgotten, especially at times when memory itself becomes a battleground.
Q: Yet a certain mistrust toward the United States is growing, including in Italy. How do you interpret it?
A: Anti-Americanism is not new. It’s a phenomenon that has returned cyclically for at least 50 years. It is also part of the internal debate within the United States itself.
- Today, it fits into a broader phase of intense polarization, which has shown extreme manifestations even across the Atlantic — as in the case of the attack against Donald Trump, an episode that signals how far the climate can deteriorate, to the point of questioning the very foundations of democratic debate.
- But there is a key point: those who criticize America often do so within societies that enjoy freedoms also built thanks to America. This does not mean avoiding criticism, but rather understanding the broader context.
Q: We are experiencing increasing polarization. How can we move beyond it?
A: By creating spaces for dialogue. Political differences exist and will continue to exist, even among allied governments. But respect between individuals, between peoples, is what ultimately prevails. That is where the real work needs to be done.
Q: You lead NIAF, which represents millions of Italian Americans. What role can this community play today?
A: A key role. We are talking about more than 20 million people who serve as a natural bridge between Italy and the United States. Even when governments are not fully aligned, this human, cultural, and familial connection remains. And it is decisive: the relationship between our countries has endured for generations.
Q: At this stage, is the transatlantic relationship still as solid as in the past?
A: Yes, it is. There may be moments of tension, but nothing can sever this bond at a deeper level. America remains a fundamental ally, and Europe is part of our history and identity. We must accept that governments may not agree on everything, without losing sight of the bigger picture.
Q: On key international dossiers — Iran, Venezuela — do we need more Europe or more America?
A: We need the West. On Iran, for example, we see convergence: no one wants a nuclear Iran.
- The question is how to get there. We must define a shared objective and work together — Americans and Europeans. That is the only way to build lasting solutions.
Q: One final question: are you optimistic?
A: Yes. Because, despite everything, the bond between Italy and the United States is stronger than political contingencies. It is a relationship that lives in people, in families, in a shared history. And in the long run, that is what makes the difference.
