Trump and Rubio Weigh Removing Ambassador Guilfoyle Over Misconduct Reports

President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are considering firing Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece, after a string of reports alleging improper and possibly illegal conduct, according to a senior U.S. official cited by the Guardian and, via Fox News, the Associated Press. No departure has been confirmed.

The official, who spoke anonymously about internal deliberations, said the two men are furious and will likely decide this week, after Monday's federal holiday, what action to take. Guilfoyle's lawyer denies any wrongdoing.

What the reports allege

The Wall Street Journal has published a series of stories since late September. Its first report said Guilfoyle told guests at a reception that the U.S. could undermine the Greek government if it chose to. It also said she promoted the business interests of a Greek construction and energy company, Aktor Group, and let its registered lobbyist, Christos Marafatsos, join private diplomatic meetings, according to Fox News.

A later Journal report, citing text messages, said Guilfoyle asked Trump donor Eric Deters to pay a $100,000 American Express bill shortly before her Senate confirmation hearing. Fox News, summarizing the Journal, said she offered to help him gain access to senior administration officials and said the transfer would leave no paper trail. Deters said he never made the payment.

The Journal also reported that she was angry at not being invited to a Greek-themed event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and boasted about luxury travel to France with energy company executives. The Daily Mail reported that she alienated embassy staff. Fox News, citing the Daily Mail, said sources described a hostile workplace, including threats to fire employees and the demotion of security detail members over minor incidents.

What Guilfoyle's side says

Guilfoyle has not directly addressed the reports, according to the Guardian. Her attorney, Jesse Binnall, disputed the authenticity of the messages in the credit card story, Fox News reported. He told the Daily Mail that any implication of wrongdoing by the ambassador is unsupported.

The Guardian reported that the U.S. embassy in Athens has tacitly expressed support for her. Greece's foreign minister said there was no need to summon Guilfoyle for an explanation, Fox News reported, because the country's energy minister denied that any threat had been made.

Rubio defended her at first. On Wednesday he said, “Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here.” On Thursday, before leaving Athens, he rebuked reporters for asking about the allegations, saying he did not know if they were true and that a single source's claim was not enough for him to respond. Guilfoyle was at the foot of his plane as he said it. Vance, speaking in Ohio on Friday, urged patience: “Let's actually see what the facts are.” He added that if something bad happened, people must face consequences.

What critics and officials are saying

The senior official told the Guardian that Rubio had grown more frustrated as reports piled up. He was particularly angry, the official said, because Guilfoyle attended most of his events during his Athens visit and greeted him with a bear hug while the allegations were circulating.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., have called for an investigation. Meeks urged her removal if the allegations are substantiated, according to Fox News.

What's at stake for the embassy and the administration

An ambassador is the president's top representative in a host country, so a dismissal or a prolonged inquiry would affect how the U.S. is represented in Athens. The Guardian noted that Rubio's recent trip put the ambassador and the allegations side by side in public view.

The status of any official review is unclear. A second official told the Guardian that the State Department's inspector general is looking into the allegations but could not say whether a formal investigation has begun. Such offices often make informal inquiries that do not become full investigations, which can lead to discipline up to dismissal. Fox News, citing the Daily Mail, reported that an investigation was opened covering her treatment of staff, private travel, gifts and business relationships. The inspector general's office declined to confirm or deny it, and the State Department declined to comment.

What happens next

The senior official said Trump and Rubio would likely decide this week. Guilfoyle, a former Fox News Channel host and California prosecutor, was nominated by Trump to the post in December 2024.

Sources: The Guardian, Fox News