President Donald Trump said Monday he is “looking at” removing Kimberly Guilfoyle as U.S. Ambassador to Greece, following a string of reports alleging improper conduct before and during her time in Athens.
“Well, we’re looking at it,” Trump told reporters at the White House before departing for a campaign rally in Ohio. “Yeah, we’re not happy.”
A senior U.S. official told reporters that Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were “extremely pissed off” over the allegations and were expected to decide on Guilfoyle’s future this week.
The Wall Street Journal has reported that Guilfoyle asked a Trump donor to pay a $100,000 credit card bill before her confirmation hearing while allegedly offering access to administration officials. The Journal also reported claims that she made a threat involving the Greek government, promoted the interests of a Greek construction and energy company, allowed a lobbyist into private diplomatic meetings, and accepted improper gifts or services.
Rubio, who traveled to Greece last week, grew frustrated when reporters repeatedly pressed him to respond to the allegations publicly.
“You guys walk around thinking that because some source told you something, and you reported it, it’s the gospel,” Rubio told reporters at the foot of his plane as Guilfoyle looked on. “It’s not the gospel. It’s not the gospel for me. That’s not the way we do things.”
A day earlier, Rubio said he would not address the allegations while visiting a foreign country but defended the embassy’s performance. “Suffice it to say our embassy here is doing a great job,” he said at a joint news conference with the Greek foreign minister. “Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here.”
Vice President JD Vance also addressed the matter last week, saying he did not know the full details of the case but rejected the idea of officials selling access.
“Of course, I don’t like anybody selling access to another government official, certainly a high-level government official,” Vance told reporters. “I assume you’re talking about a specific case, and I can’t say with confidence that the case you’re talking about is actually reflective of the way you’re describing it.”
Guilfoyle, a former California prosecutor who was once married to California Gov. Gavin Newsom and was engaged to Donald Trump Jr., has denied wrongdoing through her attorneys. In a statement released late Sunday, lawyers David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall said the money she sought from the donor was payment for public appearances and speaking engagements that predated her nomination.
“Ambassador Guilfoyle has served, and will continue to serve, with integrity, honor and distinction,” the lawyers said. “We are evaluating all available legal remedies to collect this debt and any other potential causes of action.”
The attorneys also denied any impropriety tied to Guilfoyle’s use of private planes, saying she “sought, obtained and followed State Department guidance and followed the department’s travel regulations.”
A U.S. official told The Associated Press that the State Department’s inspector general is examining the allegations, though it remains unclear whether a formal investigation has been opened. The State Department declined to comment to the AP on a potential inspector general probe.
Top Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Oversight Committee have called for an investigation into Guilfoyle’s conduct.
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