Rubio Deflects Questions on Guilfoyle Payment Report as Democrats Seek Probe

Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined on Wednesday to address a new report about Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece, saying instead that the embassy was doing a great job. The Guardian reported that he spoke to journalists during a visit to Athens.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Guilfoyle asked a Trump donor to pay a $100,000 American Express bill in exchange for access to the administration. Two top congressional Democrats have asked Rubio to investigate her conduct, though the Guardian said it is unclear whether any review has begun.

What the latest report alleges

According to the Guardian's account of the Journal report, Guilfoyle made the request to donor Eric Deters before her Senate confirmation hearing. Deters shared messages with the newspaper in which she reportedly pleaded with him to take care of the matter that day. He also said she promised to be his loyal ally in the Trump orbit forever if he covered the balance. Deters said he never made the payment.

The Guardian described this as the second report of its kind. In September, the Journal reported that Guilfoyle invited Greek lobbyists to sit in on official diplomatic meetings and promoted the business interests of a Greek construction and energy company.

What Guilfoyle's side says

A lawyer for Guilfoyle told the Journal that she was owed a balance for travel and for speaking at events before her nomination. The lawyer also disputed the authenticity of the messages Deters provided. Deters told the newspaper he did not owe Guilfoyle any money.

Rubio, for his part, pushed back on the way the reports were being treated. He told reporters that a story based on a source is not automatically accurate, and that it was not so for him. He did not answer questions about her reported conduct and called her a strong ambassador.

What Democrats are asking for

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote to Rubio on Tuesday. She said such actions do not serve U.S. credibility overseas and risk undermining diplomacy. She requested an immediate review before Rubio's trip to Greece, plus an explanation of the steps taken to avoid undue influence or even the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, sent a separate letter in September. He asked for more information about her conduct and her ties to the construction and energy company and the lobbyist. He wrote that if the reports are accurate, she is unfit to represent the United States and should be removed. The Guardian said it had asked both lawmakers for comment and that it is unclear whether they will seek more information about the latest report.

Why it matters

Ambassadors act as the public face of U.S. policy abroad, and the allegations raise questions about whether access to diplomatic channels was offered for personal or commercial benefit. None of the claims has been proven in the sources, and the two sides disagree about both the messages and whether any money was owed.

Guilfoyle, 57, was once engaged to Donald Trump Jr. They ended the engagement in 2024, and President Donald Trump nominated her as ambassador to Greece shortly after taking office, according to the Guardian.

What to watch

The open question is whether the State Department will open the review that Shaheen and Meeks requested. The sources do not say whether Rubio has responded to either letter.

Around Prague, based on reporting by The Guardian