Donald Trump ally who introduced him to Melania loses job after feud with top official

WASHINGTON, DC: Paolo Zampolli, the man who says he brought Donald Trump and Melania Trump together, has lost his position as special envoy for global partnerships at the State Department. His departure follows months of tension with Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau and comes amid legal troubles that have drawn attention to the Trump ally.

Zampolli, however, has presented his exit as a personal decision, saying President Trump had already extended his term beyond its original duration.

Paolo Zampolli's feud with Christopher Landau led to his State Department exit

Zampolli reportedly learned on Thursday that his time in the role was over after a prolonged clash with Landau, who serves under Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The disagreement reportedly centered on Zampolli's work, with Landau accusing him of taking on issues beyond his official responsibilities.

Emails obtained by Politico show Landau issuing a direct warning to Zampolli on November 14, 2025, ordering him to stop working on matters outside cultural diplomacy.

"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 exchange reflected growing tension between the two men. Their dispute reportedly involved threats of dismissal, allegations of misconduct and disagreements over press leaks.

Zampolli's departure brings an end to his time in the position after months of friction within the State Department.

Paolo Zampolli faces allegations he denies amid his exit

Zampolli's departure also comes as he faces a lawsuit filed by tech entrepreneur Victoria Drake, who alleges that he rendered her unconscious and violated her at his Manhattan townhouse in October 2023.

Zampolli has denied the allegations, describing Drake's statements as false. He has also threatened a $100 million countersuit and filed a criminal defamation complaint against her in Rome, according to The Daily Beast.

The allegations remain disputed, and Zampolli's denial is central to his response to the claims.

Paolo Zampolli says Donald Trump wanted him back in business

Despite the circumstances surrounding his exit, Zampolli has insisted that he was ready to move on. He said special envoy terms last one year and claimed Trump had already extended his term by more than six months.

Zampolli also pointed to his long-standing relationship with the president, recalling how Trump encouraged him to move beyond modeling and enter real estate.

"Years ago, he told me I was too good for modeling and brought me into real estate," Zampolli said.

He added that Trump had recently encouraged him to return to business rather than stay in government.

"Now he told me: 'Why do you want to work in government when you can close all these deals?' The President is always right."

Zampolli said he was ready to focus on his next chapter, adding, "Time for the next chapter – back to business, building relationships, and closing deals."

Zampolli's connection to the Trump family has been a defining part of his public profile. He is known for claiming that he introduced Donald Trump to Melania Trump, a relationship that later brought him closer to the president's circle.