U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle could be removed from her post as soon as this week, following reports that she sought a six-figure payout from a Republican donor and faced accusations of misconduct during her time in Athens.
According to The Associated Press, which cited a senior U.S. official, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are “extremely pissed off” over Guilfoyle’s reported conduct and are weighing whether to fire her. A decision is expected sometime after the Columbus Day holiday. As of now, no departure has been confirmed.
The scrutiny intensified after The Wall Street Journal reported that Guilfoyle asked Trump donor Eric Deters to cover a $100,000 American Express bill shortly before her Senate confirmation hearing. Messages reviewed by the Journal reportedly show Guilfoyle urging Deters to wire the money directly to American Express so the transaction would leave no paper trail, while offering to connect him with senior administration officials. Deters said he never sent the money.
Guilfoyle’s attorney, Jesse Binnall, has disputed the authenticity of the messages.
The donor allegations followed an earlier Journal report examining Guilfoyle’s dealings in Greece, including claims that she advanced the interests of Greek construction and energy firm Aktor Group and allowed the company’s registered lobbyist, Christos Marafatsos, to sit in on private diplomatic meetings with senior Greek officials.
The Journal also reported that Guilfoyle suggested during a dinner with Greek officials that the United States could undermine their government, pointing to political developments in Romania as an example. Greece’s foreign minister has said there was no need to summon Guilfoyle for an explanation, since the country’s energy minister denied any such threat was made.
Separate inspector general probe
The State Department’s Office of Inspector General has opened its own investigation into Guilfoyle, according to the Daily Mail, examining her treatment of embassy staff, use of private travel, acceptance of gifts, and relationships with business interests. The inspector general’s office has declined to confirm or deny the existence of an investigation.
Sources described to the Daily Mail a difficult workplace environment in which Guilfoyle allegedly threatened to fire staff and demoted members of her security detail over minor incidents — including, in one instance, an officer who reportedly did not respond to a 4 a.m. request for ice while she was vacationing in Mykonos.
Binnall told the Daily Mail that “any implication of wrongdoing by the Ambassador is unsupported.”
Political reaction
Congressional Democrats, including Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, have called for a review of Guilfoyle’s conduct. Meeks has said she should be removed if the allegations are confirmed.
Vice President JD Vance addressed the matter Friday while speaking to reporters in Ohio, urging caution before drawing conclusions.
“Let’s actually see what the facts are. Let’s see what the truth is,” Vance said. “And obviously, if there was something bad that happened, then people have to suffer consequences for it.”
Rubio, who visited Greece this week and spoke with the Acropolis as a backdrop, declined to directly address the allegations when questioned by reporters.
“You guys walk around thinking that because some source told you something and you reported it, it’s the gospel. It’s not the gospel,” Rubio said Thursday.
A day earlier, Rubio had defended Guilfoyle’s work in the role, saying, “Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here.”
Background
Trump nominated Guilfoyle, a former California prosecutor and Fox News Channel personality, to the ambassadorship in December 2024. She had previously served as a prominent fundraiser and surrogate for the president.
Guilfoyle was engaged to Donald Trump Jr. for four years before the couple publicly split in December 2024, the same month she was nominated for the Athens post. Trump Jr. married Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson in May of this year. Guilfoyle was previously married to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, from 2001 to 2006, while he was mayor of San Francisco.
