U.S. Terminates Paolo Zampolli’s Envoy Appointment

Paolo Zampolli’s appointment as a U.S. special envoy was terminated on October 15, ending his government employment, according to U.S. officials. The departure followed a public dispute with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, though the precise reason for the decision has not been established. Zampolli characterized his exit as a return to private business. The dispute centered on the scope of Zampolli’s diplomatic work and authority. According to reporting on email correspondence, Landau told Zampolli on November 14, 2025, to restrict his activities to cultural diplomacy. The exchanges also included disagreements over the chain of command and accusations involving leaks and defamation. Zampolli accused Landau of obstructing his work; Landau rejected accusations that he was responsible for leaks. The timing of the termination, hours after the correspondence was reported, brought the dispute into public view. But the available accounts do not establish that the feud caused the decision. No specific rationale for ending Zampolli’s appointment was publicly confirmed in the supplied reporting. Zampolli said his role had been expected to last a year and had been extended...