Reports indicate that U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, may soon be dismissed. The reason? Allegations that she sought financial assistance from a donor associated with Trump, while supposedly offering access to administration officials. This comes amid growing concerns about her behavior in Athens. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are reportedly quite upset with her actions and are considering her removal, as noted by a senior U.S. official.
A decision about her future is expected this week, following the Columbus Day holiday, although there’s been no official confirmation regarding her departure.
Guilfoyle, who previously dated Donald Trump Jr., has drawn scrutiny after a report from The Wall Street Journal revealed that she requested Trump supporter Eric Deters to settle a $100,000 bill for her American Express card shortly before her Senate confirmation hearing.
In communications reviewed by the Journal, Guilfoyle suggested that Deters transfer money directly to American Express, assuring him that it wouldn’t leave a paper trail, while simultaneously offering to assist him in accessing senior officials in the Trump administration. Deters stated that he never proceeded with this payment.
Her attorney, Jesse Binnall, has challenged the validity of these messages, which adds another layer of complexity to the situation.
This controversy follows an earlier investigation that looked into Guilfoyle’s conduct in Greece, where she was accused of promoting the interests of a particular Greek company, Aktor Group, and allowing its registered lobbyist to accompany her to important meetings with high-ranking officials.
An additional report from the Journal claims that during a dinner with Greek officials, Guilfoyle suggested the U.S. might undermine their government, referencing political events in Romania. However, Greece’s foreign minister later asserted that there was no need to summon her for clarification since the energy minister denied any threats were made.
Besides these issues, the State Department’s Inspector General is reportedly conducting an investigation into Guilfoyle regarding her treatment of embassy employees, her private travel, acceptance of gifts, and relationships with business interests.
Allegations indicate that Guilfoyle fostered a hostile work environment, even threatening to terminate employees. Reports suggest she demoted members of her security detail over trivial matters, including an incident involving a request for ice at 4 a.m. while she was on vacation.
The inspector general’s office has not confirmed the investigation’s existence, but Binnall has maintained that any accusations against Guilfoyle are unfounded.
Congressional Democrats, notably Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Rep. Gregory Meeks, have taken notice of the allegations and are pushing for a review of Guilfoyle’s behavior, with Meeks advocating for her dismissal if the claims are proven true.
Vice President J.D. Vance spoke on the issue, urging caution against hasty judgments while acknowledging that misconduct must be addressed. He emphasized the importance of verifying facts before drawing conclusions.
Marco Rubio, who recently visited Greece, refrained from directly addressing the allegations but did express confidence in Guilfoyle’s role as an ambassador, noting her effectiveness in the position.
Trump nominated Guilfoyle for her ambassadorial role in December 2024. She was a prominent figure for Trump as a fundraiser and came into the spotlight as a former California prosecutor and Fox News personality.
Interestingly, Guilfoyle was once engaged to Trump Jr. for four years; however, they broke up in December 2024—the same month she was nominated to her current position. Trump Jr. has since married Bettina Anderson this past May. Additionally, Guilfoyle was previously married to Gavin Newsom, the current Governor of California, from 2001 to 2006.
