Daniele Compatangelo, who had worked for years in Washington as a correspondent for Italian television channel La7, has died unexpectedly at the age of 50.
Të lidhura
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Sources cited by the Italian news agency Adnkronos said the journalist was found unresponsive at his home in Washington. It is suspected that his death may have been caused by a heart attack.
Compatangelo recently drew international attention following a telephone interview he conducted with U.S. President Donald Trump for La7’s “L’Aria che Tira” program.
During the conversation, Trump criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and claimed that she had begged him to take a photograph with her during their meeting at the G7 summit. The remarks sparked widespread political and diplomatic debate in Italy.
Compatangelo was born in Savona and raised in Turin. Before settling permanently in the United States, he had lived in Rome for several years.
Over a career spanning more than 25 years, the journalist worked with several leading Italian media outlets and also headed high-level press offices.
His passion for sports led Compatangelo to cover eight editions of the Olympic Games, beginning with Sydney 2000 and continuing through London 2012.
He also distinguished himself in investigative journalism. His 2011 documentary, “The Los Angeles Breakdown,” received an Award of Merit at the 53rd Southern California Journalism Awards in Los Angeles.
Over the years, Compatangelo’s reports and other work were broadcast by RAI, Mediaset and RSI, Switzerland’s Italian-language public broadcaster.
As part of his work in Washington, he also served as president of the White House Foreign Correspondents’ Association (WHFCA), the organization representing foreign journalists accredited to the U.S. administration.
