A longtime associate and former employee of Donald Trump, who now holds the title of U.S. special envoy to Italy, is advocating for American participation in the Euro-Japanese GCAP fighter jet program.
This unexpected proposal comes from Paolo Zampolli, an Italian businessman and former modeling agency manager in New York. Zampolli is known for introducing Trump to his wife, Melania, in 1998 and later working as a real estate manager for the former president.
Zampolli, a frequent visitor to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, also serves as an ambassador to the United Nations for the Caribbean nation of Dominica. In an interview with the Italian newspaper Il Giornale on February 22, he claimed that Trump had appointed him as his special envoy to Italy just days prior.
“The other day, in front of ten people, the president suddenly pointed at me and asked me to be his special envoy,” Zampolli stated. “He is always busy and efficient. He says a few words and gets things done.”
Last week, during a visit to Italy, Zampolli met with senior government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini. Following their discussion, Salvini shared on social media platform X that he had a “cordial and constructive meeting” with Zampolli, describing him as Trump’s chosen envoy to Italy. Salvini further emphasized the opportunity to strengthen economic and trade relations between Italy and the U.S. under the new administration.
During an interview on prime-time Italian television with renowned host Bruno Vespa, Zampolli stated that his primary focus would be on strengthening defense industry ties between the two nations.
Speaking with Defense News, Zampolli revealed he had initiated discussions about the U.S. potentially joining the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a joint effort between the U.K., Italy, and Japan to develop a next-generation fighter jet. While the U.S. is already pursuing its own sixth-generation fighter aircraft, Zampolli argued that a unified approach would be a “very wise idea,” as it could help all participating nations reduce costs.
“If you want to develop a fighter jet, collaboration is key,” he said. “If a new aircraft is needed, the U.S. must be involved.” However, he clarified that the proposal was his own initiative and had not been discussed with Trump. “This is still an early conversation,” he added, though he noted that officials in Italy seemed open to exploring the idea further.
In December, British, Japanese, and Italian defense firms involved in GCAP announced the formation of a joint venture based in London, working alongside a U.K.-led program office to ensure the aircraft is operational by 2035. Meanwhile, the U.S. Air Force and Navy continue to develop their own sixth-generation fighter programs.
When asked about Zampolli’s suggestion that U.S. involvement in GCAP could lead to cost savings, defense giant Lockheed Martin responded: “Lockheed Martin is committed to supporting our customers in achieving their national security goals. However, inquiries regarding GCAP as a trilateral government initiative are best addressed by the respective governments involved.”
Zampolli’s sudden appointment and diplomatic role have raised eyebrows in Italy. When questioned about him, Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani responded, “Zampolli who?” Meanwhile, inquiries regarding the specifics of Zampolli’s role were redirected by the U.S. Embassy in Rome to the White House press office, which has yet to respond to Defense News’ request for comment.
