Donald Trump's former special envoy Paolo Zampolli was removed from his role on 15 October 2026 after a long‑running feud with a senior State Department official, a decision that has revived scrutiny of earlier allegations that he contacted a top US immigration official about his former partner during a bitter custody dispute.
The former modelling agent, who says he introduced Donald Trump to Melania Trump, was ousted after a protracted clash with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau spilled into public view. The dispute involved angry emails, accusations of overstepping authority and threats of disciplinary action, according to reporting by Politico and other outlets.
