President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are considering removing U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle following reports of alleged misconduct, including requests for financial assistance and conflicts of interest.
President Donald Trump stated on Monday that he is "not happy" with U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle and is considering whether to fire her. The comments follow a series of reports by The Wall Street Journal alleging improper conduct by Guilfoyle before and during her tenure in Athens. When asked by a reporter if he was weighing her dismissal, Trump replied, "Well, we’re looking at it," and added, "Yeah, we’re not happy."
The scrutiny centers on allegations that Guilfoyle sought to leverage her position for personal financial gain and promoted private business interests. According to The Wall Street Journal, Guilfoyle allegedly asked Trump donor Eric Deters in July 2025 to pay $100,000 for an American Express bill shortly before her Senate confirmation hearing. The report states that Guilfoyle offered to help Deters gain access to senior Trump administration officials in exchange for the payment. Deters stated he never made the payment.
Additionally, reports indicate Guilfoyle promoted the interests of Aktor Group, a Greek construction firm, and allowed its registered lobbyist, Christos Marafatsos, to accompany her to private diplomatic meetings with government officials in Eastern Europe. The Wall Street Journal reported that Guilfoyle told targets of her efforts to deal with Aktor Group, which had teamed up with a Greek state-backed energy company to import liquefied natural gas from the U.S.
Guilfoyle’s attorneys, Jesse Binnall and David M. Schwartz, have denied the allegations. In a statement, they described the dispute with Deters as an effort to collect approximately $150,000 they said he still owes for speeches and consulting work performed before she entered government service. "That is what Mr. Deters now calls a ‘quid pro quo’: a delinquent client being asked to pay an overdue bill," the attorneys said. They also stated that Guilfoyle refused Deters' offer of $1 million to promote his private litigation.
Regarding the travel allegations, the attorneys said Guilfoyle "sought, obtained and followed State Department guidance" before using private aircraft and complied with applicable ethics, gift, and reporting requirements. "Ambassador Guilfoyle has served, and will continue to serve, with integrity, honor and distinction," they said.
The State Department's Office of Inspector General (OIG) is investigating allegations involving Guilfoyle's treatment of embassy employees, private travel, acceptance of gifts, and relationships with business interests. A source familiar with the matter told CNN that the OIG is investigating, though the office declined to confirm or deny the existence of an investigation, citing policy. Reports from the Daily Mail described a hostile workplace where Guilfoyle allegedly threatened to fire employees and demoted security detail members over minor incidents.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Trump are reportedly "extremely pissed off" by the conduct, according to a senior U.S. official cited by The Associated Press. Rubio, who visited Athens recently, initially defended Guilfoyle, saying, "Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here." However, he later declined to address the allegations directly, telling 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."
Vice President JD Vance cautioned against rushing to judgment but acknowledged that misconduct should carry consequences. "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."
The potential removal of Ambassador Guilfoyle highlights ongoing tensions regarding ethical standards within the Trump administration's diplomatic corps. The allegations, if substantiated, could impact U.S. relations with Greece and Eastern European allies, particularly concerning energy deals and diplomatic protocols. The outcome of the internal investigations and the President's final decision will serve as a significant test of accountability for political appointees in high-level diplomatic roles.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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