Trump fires Paolo Zampolli, the man who introduced him to Melania, after 'unhinged' State Department email feud

Paolo Zampolli, 56, the former modeling agent who claims he introduced Donald Trump to Melania at a New York party in 1998, was fired from his role as special envoy for global partnerships on Thursday after a monthslong email war with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau became public. Landau had reportedly repeatedly ordered Zampolli to stop working on issues outside his cultural diplomacy brief, with messages describing accusations of misconduct and leaking. Zampolli's exit is the second departure from Trump's diplomatic circle this week, following the ouster of Kimberly Guilfoyle as US ambassador to Greece.

Landau told Zampolli 'once again' to 'immediately stop all work on ANY issues not directly tied to cultural diplomacy' in emails that reportedly devolved into personal attacks.

Zampolli's departure follows separate revelations that he reportedly asked an ICE official to detain his ex-wife Amanda Ungaro during a custody battle — she was subsequently deported.

Zampolli insisted on X that 'the President is always right', framing his exit as routine: 'Now it is time for the next chapter.'