WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are weighing whether to remove Kimberly Guilfoyle from her role as U.S. ambassador to Greece after widespread reports alleging ethical lapses and workplace misconduct, according to officials familiar with internal deliberations.
A senior U.S. official told The Associated Press that Trump and Rubio are “extremely pissed off” over the accusations and intend to determine her future following the Columbus Day holiday. Other administration figures told the New York Post that Guilfoyle is “on very thin ice” and described her continued tenure in Athens as increasingly tenuous.
Mounting allegations of improper dealings
The internal debate follows investigative reporting by The Wall Street Journal detailing a series of controversies surrounding the envoy. According to the newspaper, Guilfoyle solicited Kentucky donor and former congressional candidate Eric Deters to pay a $100,000 credit card bill shortly before her Senate confirmation, dangling access to administration officials in return.
Deters confirmed the outreach, telling MS NOW that she had sent him payment details for an American Express balance. He declined to fulfill the request. Records show Deters has twice faced suspension from the Kentucky Bar Association for professional misconduct, including submitting false statements in legal filings.
The Journal also reported that Guilfoyle faced accusations of promoting the financial interests of a Greek energy firm, allowing its representative into closed diplomatic sessions, and boasting about private plane travel provided by wealthy executives. An additional report by the Daily Mail cited embassy personnel accusing her of maintaining an abrasive, domineering atmosphere within the Athens mission, prompting scrutiny from the State Department’s Office of Inspector General.
Defense team and administration reactions
Attorneys for Guilfoyle, David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall, strongly rejected the allegations in a statement late Sunday. The lawyers stated that the financial request sent to Deters involved long-overdue compensation for speaking and consulting engagements completed prior to her government appointment. They insisted that seeking payment for rendered services represented routine financial cleanup before entering public service.
Her legal team also maintained that all private aviation arrangements complied strictly with State Department guidelines and ethics regulations, asserting that Guilfoyle has acted with integrity throughout her diplomatic assignment.
Trump offered little defense of his envoy when questioned by reporters Friday outside the White House. The president said he had only recently learned of the matter, adding, “She was always very nice.” Vice President JD Vance avoided judging the specifics but told reporters he objected to any pay-for-access conduct, adding that wrongdoers must face accountability if accusations prove accurate.
Rubio faced awkward moments last week while in Greece for diplomatic meetings. After initially calling Guilfoyle “a strong ambassador,” Rubio rebuked reporters asking about the unfolding controversy prior to departing Athens, warning them against taking unsubstantiated claims as fact.
What lies ahead
Several congressional Democrats, including Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York and Rep. Robert Garcia of California, have called for formal investigations into Guilfoyle’s conduct. A White House spokesperson declined to confirm whether a dismissal is imminent, leaving Guilfoyle’s diplomatic career hanging on a pending decision from Trump and Rubio.
