Overview

• The clip, filmed by another motorist and posted on TikTok, spread widely across social platforms on October 1–2.
• The footage shows the 72-year-old at the wheel of a white Smart holding a phone to his ear and apparently not wearing a seatbelt in heavy traffic.
• Onlookers repeatedly called his name and honked, and the person recording ended with an audible insult when he did not respond.
• Commenters noted the conduct could violate Italy’s highway code, which prohibits handheld phone use and requires seatbelts even when stopped.
• Reactions ranged from criticism and political barbs to defenses of personal privacy, and no citation or official statement has been reported.