Trump and Rubio Consider Firing U.S. Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle Over Misconduct Allegations
President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are considering firing U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle following reports alleging improper and possibly illegal conduct before and during her tenure in Athens. A senior U.S. official stated Sunday that administration leadership is extremely frustrated by the reported actions and expects to decide on potential disciplinary measures this week.
Allegations Surface Through Investigative Reporting
The controversy stems from a series of reports published by The Wall Street Journal starting in late September. According to those reports, Guilfoyle allegedly threatened a host country official, accepted improper gifts and services, and offered to use internal administration influence in exchange for the payment of a large credit card bill. Additional accounts noted that she told guests at a reception that the United States could undermine the Greek government if it chose to, while actively promoting the business interests of a specific Greek construction and energy company by allowing its lobbyist into private diplomatic meetings.
Further reporting from The Wall Street Journal detailed text message exchanges showing Guilfoyle asked a Trump donor and supporter to pay a $100,000 credit card bill right before her confirmation hearing, promising access to administration officials in return. Later reports indicated she grew enraged after failing to receive an invitation to a Greek-themed event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and demanded attendance while boasting about luxury travel to France with energy executives. Separately, The Daily Mail reported that Guilfoyle alienated staff at the U.S. embassy in Athens.
Rubio Faces Questioning over Ambassador Allegations
Secretary Rubio has faced intense questioning regarding the unfolding situation. Rubio visited Athens recently, where Guilfoyle attended most of his events and greeted him with a bear hug upon arrival. While Rubio initially defended the ambassador following the first published report, he declined to comment publicly on subsequent allegations as they multiplied. Before departing Athens, Rubio berated journalists for asking about the situation, stating he did not know if the reports were true and would not respond without confirmation. A second U.S. official noted that the State Department inspector general is looking into the allegations, though it remains unclear whether a formal investigation has been launched.
Congressional leaders have also stepped into the matter. The top two Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees—Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire—alongside the ranking member on the House Committee for Oversight and Government Reform, Robert Garcia of California, have called for a formal inquiry. Guilfoyle has not directly addressed the reports, though her legal representation asserted she did nothing wrong, and the U.S. embassy in Athens expressed tacit support for her tenure.