WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, faces the possibility of being fired by President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio due to a series of reports alleging improper and potentially illegal conduct during her tenure in Athens. A senior U.S. official disclosed that both Trump and Rubio are “extremely pissed off” regarding Guilfoyle’s actions and are expected to make a decision regarding her future this week, following the Columbus Day holiday.
The official, who chose to remain anonymous to discuss internal matters, stated that Rubio’s frustration is particularly pronounced. He had visited Athens just last week, where Guilfoyle participated in most of his events and greeted him warmly as the allegations emerged. Reports from The Wall Street Journal indicate various questionable behaviors attributed to Guilfoyle, including allegedly threatening a host country official, accepting improper gifts, and suggesting the use of her influence within the administration in exchange for settling a significant credit card debt.
Guilfoyle has not publicly addressed the allegations directly; however, her attorney has asserted that she did nothing wrong, while the U.S. embassy in Athens has reportedly shown tacit support for her. Initially defending Guilfoyle after the first wave of reports, Rubio has since refrained from commenting on the situation as the allegations have intensified. Last Wednesday, he remarked, “Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here,” but after a subsequent report surfaced, he expressed exasperation toward journalists' inquiries. “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,” he stated, while Guilfoyle was present to witness his remarks.
As reports continued to mount, Rubio's frustration reportedly grew significantly. A second U.S. official, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, indicated that the State Department's inspector general is investigating the allegations first disclosed in the Journal late last month. While it is unclear if a formal investigation has begun, inspectors general often initiate informal inquiries into complaints about staff members, which may or may not escalate to a full investigation leading to disciplinary actions, potentially including dismissal. The State Department has remained tight-lipped concerning any potential inspector general investigation.
Calls for an investigation into Guilfoyle have also emerged from prominent Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Gregory Meeks from New York and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen from New Hampshire, along with Robert Garcia, the ranking member on the House Committee for Oversight and Government Reform from California. They are urging a thorough examination of her conduct.
Since late September, The Wall Street Journal has highlighted several accounts of Guilfoyle’s questionable conduct. Initial reports indicated that she threatened to undermine the Greek government, advocated for the business interests of a specific Greek construction and energy company, and allowed a lobbyist associated with that company to participate in private diplomatic meetings.
During Rubio's recent trip to Athens, additional allegations surfaced, including claims that Guilfoyle solicited a Trump donor to cover a $100,000 credit card bill prior to her confirmation hearing, offering him access to administration officials as a form of compensation. Reports also suggested that she became upset about not being invited to a Greek-themed event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this year, and she boasted about luxury travels with energy executives.
Moreover, claims from the British tabloid The Daily Mail described Guilfoyle as having alienated embassy staff in Athens and blurred the lines of acceptable behavior for a top U.S. representative. Guilfoyle, who previously worked as a host for Fox News and as a prosecutor in California, was formerly engaged to Donald Trump Jr.
