Paolo Zampolli Leaves State Department Post as Feud With No. 2 Diplomat Erupts
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 16
Paolo Zampolli Leaves State Department Post as Feud With No. 2 Diplomat Erupts
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 16
Summary
Paolo Zampolli said Thursday he had left his State Department job as a presidential special envoy, becoming the second Trump-linked diplomatic departure this week.
Politico reported hours earlier that Zampolli had been fired, citing a U.S. official who said his envoy status was terminated, while Zampolli cast the move as a routine return to business.
Christopher Landau, the deputy secretary of state, was reported to be feuding with Zampolli in messages and emails that spiraled into accusations of leaks and defamation.
Zampolli had already drawn scrutiny last year after asking an ICE official to detain his ex-wife during a custody fight; she was later deported.
His exit follows the ouster of Kimberly Guilfoyle from the Greece ambassadorship, adding to turnover among figures in Trump’s orbit at the State Department.
With multiple external appointees leaving diplomatic posts recently, how will this rapid turnover reshape international partnership strategies moving forward?
What happens when private sector networking clashes with strict government hierarchy, as seen in this high-profile State Department departure?
How will the revelation of a diplomat allegedly using federal immigration enforcement for a personal custody battle impact future ethics rules?