Trump and Rubio are weighing whether to remove US ambassador Guilfoyle. She disputes allegations; no decision is confirmed.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are considering whether to remove Kimberly Guilfoyle as U.S. ambassador to Greece, according to a senior U.S. official who spoke to The Associated Press. A person familiar with the matter told CNN that Trump is weighing the decision and is expected to make it soon. The AP’s source said a decision would likely come this week, after Monday’s Columbus Day holiday. No dismissal or resignation has been confirmed.
Guilfoyle is a former Fox News host and California prosecutor who was once engaged to Donald Trump Jr. Trump nominated her to the Athens post in December 2024, the same month the two ended their engagement. Since late September, The Wall Street Journal has published a series of reports questioning her conduct. The newspaper reported that, shortly before her Senate confirmation hearing, she asked Trump donor Eric Deters in text messages to pay off a $100,000 American Express bill and offered to help him reach senior administration officials. Deters has said he never made the payment. Guilfoyle’s attorney, Jesse Binnall, has disputed the authenticity of the messages.
The Journal has also reported that she promoted the interests of the Greek construction and energy company Aktor Group, and that she let its registered lobbyist attend private diplomatic meetings with her. A separate Journal report said she made remarks at a dinner with Greek officials that were interpreted as a threat; Greece’s foreign minister has since said there was no need to summon her, because the country’s energy minister denied any threat was made. The Daily Mail reported that the State Department’s Office of Inspector General has opened an inquiry into her treatment of embassy staff, private travel, gifts and business relationships. The inspector general’s office declined to confirm or deny it, and Binnall said any implication of wrongdoing by the ambassador is unsupported.
Rubio, who visited Athens this week, said on Wednesday that Guilfoyle had been a strong ambassador, then declined on Thursday to address the allegations directly. Vice President JD Vance said Friday that the facts should be established first and that wrongdoing should carry consequences. Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Reps. Gregory Meeks of New York and Robert Garcia of California, have called for a review or investigation. Meeks said she should be removed if the allegations are substantiated.
This report draws on information from The Associated Press, CNN, Fox News, The Wall Street Journal and the Daily Mail, as cited in those reports.