US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are considering firing Kimberly Guilfoyle, the American ambassador to Greece, following a series of media reports detailing allegations of improper and potentially unlawful behavior before and during her posting in Athens. A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated on Sunday that both leaders are "extremely pissed off" about the claims and are expected to determine a course of action after Monday's federal holiday.
According to the official, Rubio was notably angered by the situation, particularly after visiting Athens last week. During the visit, Guilfoyle attended most of Rubio's official events and greeted him with a bear hug upon arrival, even as accusations regarding her conduct were actively circulating. The senior official noted that the Secretary of State grew increasingly exasperated as additional reports emerged.
Rubio's public posture shifted as the allegations expanded. After initially backing Guilfoyle following early reports, he praised her on Wednesday by stating, "Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here." However, following a subsequent report published late Wednesday, Rubio confronted reporters on Thursday at the tarmac before departing Athens, stating he would not respond to unconfirmed claims. "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. It’s not the gospel for me. That’s not the way we do things," Rubio told reporters near his aircraft while Guilfoyle stood by watching his departure.
Reports published by the Wall Street Journal since late September have outlined multiple allegations against the ambassador. The news outlet reported that Guilfoyle told guests at a reception that the US held the power to undermine the Greek government, promoted the commercial interests of a specific Greek energy and construction firm, and permitted its lobbyist to enter private diplomatic meetings. The publication also cited text messages indicating she asked a Trump donor to settle a $100,000 credit card bill prior to her confirmation hearing in exchange for access to administration officials. Additional reporting detailed her anger over being excluded from a Greek-themed event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where she demanded entry while touting luxury travel to France alongside energy executives.
Further claims published by British tabloid The Daily Mail indicated that Guilfoyle had alienated personnel at the US embassy in Athens and crossed the boundaries of acceptable conduct for a top American diplomatic representative. Before her appointment to Athens, Guilfoyle worked as a prosecutor in California, served as a host on the Fox News Channel, and was previously engaged to the president's son, Donald Trump Jr.
A second anonymous US official disclosed that the State Department's inspector general is reviewing the allegations. While the official could not confirm whether a formal IG investigation had been launched, inspectors general routinely conduct preliminary inquiries into complaints against personnel. Such inquiries do not always progress to full investigations, which carry potential administrative penalties up to termination. The State Department declined to comment regarding any potential inspector general review.
In Congress, top Democratic lawmakers have urged a formal investigation into Guilfoyle's actions. Calls for an inquiry have been made by Representative Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the leading Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; and Representative Robert Garcia of California, ranking member on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Guilfoyle has not issued a direct public statement, though her attorney maintained that she committed no wrongdoing, and the US embassy in Athens has tacitly signaled support for her.
