Trump and Rubio Weigh Ousting U.S. Ambassador to Greece Over Conduct Allegations

Updated 5 min 44 sec ago

October 12, 2026 05:30

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are considering dismissing U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle following multiple reports that she engaged in improper and potentially illegal conduct while serving in Athens. The decision is expected to be made this week after Monday’s Columbus Day holiday, according to a senior U.S. official briefed on internal deliberations.

The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Trump and Rubio are “extremely frustrated” by the allegations surrounding Guilfoyle. In particular, Rubio expressed anger because he had visited Athens the previous week, where Guilfoyle attended most of his events and greeted him with a bear hug even as the controversy was unfolding.

The Wall Street Journal has detailed several episodes of questionable behavior attributed to Guilfoyle, including an alleged threat against a Greek official, acceptance of improper gifts and services, and a promise to use her influence within the administration in exchange for covering a $100,000 credit‑card bill. In one case, she reportedly asked a Trump donor to settle the debt just before her confirmation hearing, offering the donor access to senior officials.

Guilfoyle’s lawyer has maintained that she did nothing wrong, and the U.S. Embassy in Athens has tacitly expressed support for her. After initially defending the ambassador, Rubio has since declined to comment publicly on the mounting claims. “Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here,” Rubio said on Wednesday.

Following a new report late Wednesday, Rubio confronted journalists in Athens before departing, urging them not to treat unverified sources as fact. “You guys walk around thinking that because some source told you something and you reported it, it’s the gospel,” Rubio said as Guilfoyle watched nearby.

According to a second senior official familiar with personnel matters, the State Department’s inspector general is examining the allegations, which first surfaced in the Journal late last month and have since multiplied. The official could not confirm whether a formal investigation has been opened, noting that inspector generals often conduct informal inquiries that may or may not lead to disciplinary action.

Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee—Representatives Gregory Meeks and Senator Jeanne Shaheen—as well as Representative Robert Garcia, have called for a full investigation into Guilfoyle’s conduct.

Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and California prosecutor who was once engaged to Donald Trump Jr., has not directly addressed the reports. The Journal’s earlier stories also described her telling guests that the United States could undermine the Greek government if it wished, promoting a specific Greek construction and energy firm, and allowing its lobbyist into private diplomatic meetings. Additional accounts from The Daily Mail alleged that she alienated embassy staff and pushed the boundaries of appropriate behavior for a top U.S. representative.

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