President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are considering removing U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle following reports alleging improper conduct before and during her tenure, a senior U.S. official said Sunday.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal conversations, said Trump and Rubio are “extremely pissed off” about the allegations, according to The Associated Press and The Guardian. Administration leaders are likely to determine what course of action to pursue this week following the federal Columbus Day holiday, the official noted. No departure has been finalized.
Vice President JD Vance addressed the situation on Friday in Ohio, urging caution while noting that substantiated misconduct must carry repercussions. “Let’s actually see what the facts are. Let’s see what the truth is,” Vance told reporters, as reported by Fox News, adding that “if there was something bad that happened, then people have to suffer consequences for it.” Trump offered brief remarks on Friday, telling reporters, “I don’t know too much, but she was always very nice,” according to Mother Jones.
Financial solicitations and commercial ties
The scrutiny intensified following multiple reports by The Wall Street Journal regarding Guilfoyle’s diplomatic and personal activities. The Journal reported, citing text messages, that Guilfoyle asked Republican contributor Eric Deters to pay a $100,000 American Express balance shortly before her Senate confirmation proceedings. She allegedly offered Deters direct access to senior administration figures in exchange for the payment and suggested wiring the funds directly to avoid a paper trail. Deters told the publication that he never made the payment. Guilfoyle’s attorney, Jesse Binnall, contested the authenticity of the communications.
Earlier reporting by The Wall Street Journal alleged that Guilfoyle promoted the commercial interests of Aktor Group, a Greek construction and energy company, and permitted its registered lobbyist, Christos Marafatsos, to attend closed diplomatic discussions. The Journal also reported that she claimed during an event that the U.S. could undermine the Greek government if it chose to do so. Greece’s foreign minister subsequently stated no formal explanation was required because the country’s energy minister denied any threat occurred, Fox News reported.
Internal inquiry and calls for dismissal
Additional allegations published by the Daily Mail pointed to friction inside the U.S. Embassy in Athens. Sources cited by the outlet described an abrasive work climate where Guilfoyle threatened to terminate employees and demoted protective personnel over minor disagreements, including an incident where a security officer allegedly failed to fulfill a 4 a.m. request for ice during her trip to Mykonos.
A second U.S. official told news outlets that the State Department’s Office of Inspector General is reviewing the claims, though it remains uncertain whether an official formal probe has begun. Binnall told the Daily Mail that “any implication of wrongdoing by the Ambassador is unsupported,” while the inspector general’s office declined to confirm or deny an inquiry.
The controversy has spurred immediate backlash from Capitol Hill. Democratic leaders on key panels—including Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, and Rep. Robert Garcia of California—have demanded formal investigations. Meeks urged the administration to dismiss her if investigators confirm the allegations. Whether Trump and Rubio will act to remove her from Athens or await the outcome of internal oversight inquiries is expected to become clear in the coming days.
