Paolo Zampolli was dismissed from his position as Donald Trump’s special envoy

Ana Maria Eftene

16 October 2026, 07:27

International

Credit: Francesco Enriquez / IPA / Profimedia

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Paolo Zampolli was dismissed from his position as President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Global Partnerships, a U.S. official confirmed Thursday. His mandate has ended, and Zampolli is no longer employed by the U.S. government. The dismissal came hours after Politico published information about his months-long conflict with Christopher Landau, Deputy Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The dispute between the two was conducted mainly via email and concerned responsibilities and the decision-making hierarchy. Landau reportedly asked Zampolli to limit himself to the role of cultural envoy, while the former official accused him of attacking him from the very first day and trying to destroy his work. More than ten administration officials were included in the message exchanges, including Dan Scavino, who is responsible for presidential appointments.

Zampolli said he was not surprised by the dismissal and that returning to the business world represented “a new chapter.” He claimed that Trump had told him he could conclude more deals in the private sector.

Appointed by Trump as special representative for global partnerships during the president’s second term, Zampolli was supposed to promote international cultural collaborations. According to Politico, he reportedly overstepped his duties by meeting with foreign officials on matters unrelated to the cultural field.

At the end of August, Zampolli called President Nicușor Dan during a conference about the Donald Trump Romanian-American Friendship Park. He conveyed the U.S. president’s thanks for the project and announced a future meeting in New York. Zampolli had known Trump since the 1990s, when he worked as a modeling agent and represented Melania Trump.

Context: Paolo Zampolli has been involved in U.S.–Romania relations through symbolic projects and recently appeared in the public sphere in connection with “Donald Trump” Park

In recent weeks, Paolo Zampolli, President Donald Trump’s special envoy for global partnerships, has made appearances related to projects in Romania. He was present in Bucharest in the context of renaming Tudor Arghezi Park as the “Donald Trump” Romanian-American Friendship Park, and later made a phone call to President Nicușor Dan during the inauguration of the park’s construction site.

During the phone conversation, Zampolli conveyed President Trump’s thanks to Nicușor Dan for the project and proposed a joint visit to “Donald Trump” Park in the near future. At the same time, Zampolli also published public messages about the project, presenting it as a promise kept and mentioning that work was expected to begin at the end of August or the beginning of September.

Meanwhile, serious allegations against Zampolli also emerged in the public sphere after he was sued in New York by a person who accused him of assaults. In this context, the case has also brought renewed attention to his recent appearances in Romania.