President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are weighing whether to remove U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle following reports of alleged financial impropriety and workplace misconduct.
Trump and Rubio were “extremely pissed off” by the reports about Guilfoyle, a senior administration official told the Associated Press. The official said a decision on her future was expected after Columbus Day.
Rubio was reportedly frustrated that Guilfoyle attended many of his events during his trip to Athens last week and greeted him warmly upon his arrival, even as allegations against her were emerging, the official said.
The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Guilfoyle sought help from a political ally to pay $100,000 in credit card debt before taking up her ambassadorship, allegedly promising to connect the benefactor with political officials in return. The Daily Mail subsequently reported that the State Department’s Office of Inspector General was investigating allegations of workplace misconduct involving Guilfoyle.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the White House and State Department for comment.
Guilfoyle has not directly addressed the allegations. In a statement released Sunday evening, however, her attorneys, David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall, denied wrongdoing and said the money she sought from a Trump donor was payment for previously agreed-upon services, including public appearances and speaking engagements, that had gone unpaid.
“Ambassador Guilfoyle has served, and will continue to serve, with integrity, honor and distinction,” her lawyers said. “We are evaluating all available legal remedies to collect this debt and any other potential causes of action.”
The attorneys also rejected allegations of impropriety involving Guilfoyle’s use of private aircraft, saying she sought and received State Department guidance before each trip and complied with the department’s travel regulations.
Rubio initially defended Guilfoyle following the first report, but he has since declined to address the allegations in detail. On Wednesday, he described her as “a strong ambassador” to Greece.
Last Thursday, Rubio accused reporters of trying to generate headlines by pressing him on the reports as he prepared to leave Greece for Portugal.
“You guys are gonna ask me this, you’re gonna ask me again in Portugal. I know the game,” Rubio told reporters. “The game is — someone gives information to a newspaper or media outlet, the media outlet reports it, you immediately turn to me and say, ‘I need you to respond to our reporting.’ That’s not the way this process works.”
RUBIO LASHES OUT AT MEDIA FOR DEMANDING COMMENT ON GUILFOYLE REPORT
Guilfoyle, 57, was appointed ambassador to Greece after ending her multiyear engagement to Donald Trump Jr. in 2024. She previously worked as a Fox News host and as a prosecutor in California and was married to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA).
The allegations have also drawn scrutiny from congressional Democrats. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, have called for an investigation, as has Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), the ranking Democrat on the House oversight committee. Republican Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) also predicted an investigation, but could not confirm if one is underway.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
