Paolo Zampolli removed as State Department envoy after email feud

Paolo Zampolli, a political appointee with ties to the Trump family, has been removed from his position as US special envoy for global partnerships. A US official stated on Thursday that Zampolli "was notified today that his status as an envoy has been terminated and he is no longer a government employee." Two other officials confirmed the removal.

Dispute with Deputy Secretary of State

The termination follows a report by Politico detailing a monthslong conflict between Zampolli and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. According to the report, the dispute occurred over email and involved disagreements regarding chain of command, with messages that included personal attacks.

Emails obtained by Politico show Landau issuing a directive to Zampolli on November 14, 2025. "I am hereby ordering you–once again–to immediately stop all work on ANY issues not directly tied to cultural diplomacy, including every one of the issues you mentioned in your recent emails," Landau wrote. The report notes that the email chains sometimes included more than a dozen administration officials.

Background and Recent Departures

Zampolli, a businessman and former modeling agent, represented Melania Trump and has stated that he introduced her to Donald Trump at a party in 1998. Trump announced Zampolli as special envoy for global partnerships in March 2025, writing on Truth Social that Zampolli would "help us advance America’s Interests on the Global stage."

Zampolli is the second Trump administration diplomat with personal ties to President Donald Trump to be ousted from the administration in recent days. This follows the forced resignation of Kimberly Guilfoyle, who served as the US ambassador to Greece.

Zampolli's Response

In a statement, Zampolli noted that his role, originally intended to last one year, had been extended by Trump for six months. He attributed his departure to Trump's advice.

"Years ago, (Trump) told me I was too good for modeling and brought me into real estate," Zampolli said. "Now he told me: ‘Why do you want to work in government when you can close all these deals?’"

Zampolli added, "The President is always right," and stated that "serving him and the United States has been the greatest honor of my life." He expressed gratitude to President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary Marco Rubio, and the team, saying, "Now it is time for the next chapter - back to business, building relationships and closing deals."

Why it matters

The removal of Zampolli highlights internal tensions within the State Department regarding the scope of roles for political appointees with personal connections to the president. The public disclosure of the email dispute provides insight into the operational challenges and interpersonal conflicts affecting diplomatic protocols and chain of command within the administration.

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Sources

• cnn.com: Paolo Zampolli: Trump ally removed from State Department role after report of feud | CNN Politics
• politico.com: Nasty email fight between 2 top Trump appointees spills into the open - POLITICO
• yahoo.com: Donald Trump Ally Who Introduced Him to Melania Loses Job After Bitter Feud

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.