Paolo Zampolli, Donald Trump’s emissary, points to Romania as a model for Italy, amid the conflict between the President of the US and the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni: „Italy should look to Romania to know how to act”

Tensions between the US and Italy have deep roots and began when Italy did not allow the Americans to use military air bases for military actions in Iran. Another tense moment between the two states occurred at the G7 Summit, which took place in France between June 15 and 17. At that time, Donald Trump claimed that Meloni had begged him to take a photograph, but that he had refused. In response, Meloni accused him of lying and that „Neither I nor Italy ever beg„.

In the context of these conflicts, Paolo Zampolli, President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for Global Partnerships, suggested that Italian authorities look to Romania and take it as an example.

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“The only suggestion I have is to look at other leaders with whom the relationship has not deteriorated, such as, for example, the Romanian president, with whom I myself have worked. And, indeed, Romania has allowed the US to use the Kogălniceanu military base, located near the airport in Constanta, which is in the process of being expanded to become the largest NATO base in Europe”, Zampolli told the Italian press.

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România, dată ca exemplu în presa italiană pentru relația cu SUA, în contextul scandalului Trump-Meloni. Paolo Zampolli, Trimisul Special al președintelui american: „Italia ar trebui să privească spre România pentru a ști cum să acționeze”

Paolo Zampolli visited Romania for the first time in August 2025. Following his visits, he developed a good relationship with President Nicușor Dan, Patriarch Daniel, the mayor of Bucharest’s Sector 4 Daniel Băluță, as well as the head of the Romanian Football Federation. When President Nicușor Dan visited the United States, Zampolli arranged a meeting for him with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The relationship with Romania, given as an example in the Italian press by Trump’s close associate

Here, in the following lines, is the full article from La Sicilia:

“If you offer friendship, you expect friendship; with other leaders you can act out of convenience, but from someone you consider a friend – and the one between Trump and Meloni is not a friendship I created – you expect friendship”. The one who deciphers the moods after the „dissing” (attack) on social networks between the US president and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is Paolo Zampolli, a personal friend of the American president for over thirty years, and today the US government’s special envoy for Global Partnerships, as well as delegate for „sports diplomacy”.

Paolo Zampolli’s words paint a stark picture, in which personal disappointment inexorably mixes with realpolitik: „The president – he explained – has expressed himself, and the message he published on the social network is now the official line of the United States administration. We are no longer at the level of a conversation with a journalist, which may or may not be misunderstood. This is the official line and, at this moment, documents a clear rupture”.

And, indeed, for the moment, attempts at reconciliation are abandoned: „Until yesterday, said Zampolli, I thought that the problem could be solved with a few gestures, perhaps with an invitation to the golf course with the president, to facilitate a more informal clarification. Now, however, we are faced with a thought-out and written message, which clearly represents the line of the entire administration”. A friendship betrayed, but there is something else: „It is enough to read the message, which is very clear. The president expected Italy’s help during the operations in Iran, but he did not receive it. The president did a lot for this country and had offered a clear political investment to Prime Minister Meloni on various issues, without subsequently receiving support in an initiative of great importance”.

For someone who has known the US leader for three decades, the dynamics are completely transparent: “My friendship with him has lasted for over thirty years and it is clear that loyalty comes first, it is the thing he cares about the most. From friends you expect friendship”.

“Obviously, Zampolli reasons, what happened with the prime minister did not meet his expectations. The only suggestion I can offer is to look at other leaders with whom the relationship has not deteriorated, such as, for example, the Romanian president, with whom I myself have worked”.

And, indeed, Romania has allowed the US to use the Kogălniceanu military base, located near the airport in Constanta, which is in the process of expanding to become the largest NATO base in Europe. Zampolli, however, in his capacity as responsible for sports diplomacy, sees a ray of light: „Here everyone loves Italy, just like the US president loves it. It would be nice if Tajani would still come to Miami on Sunday, where the Uruguay – Cape Verde match is scheduled; we could watch the game together, in the spirit of sports diplomacy, which could be the key to overcoming all misunderstandings”.