Trump and Rubio weigh firing US envoy to Greece Guilfoyle, official says

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly praised Kimberly Guilfoyle, the US ambassador to Greece, during his visit to Athens. On Wednesday, he said: "Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here."

On Thursday, before leaving Athens, Rubio criticised journalists for asking about allegations against her. According to The Guardian, he said he did not know whether they were true and would not respond to what he could not confirm. The Guardian quoted him as saying: "You guys walk around thinking that because some source told you something and you reported it, it's the gospel. It's not the gospel. It's not the gospel for me. That's not the way we do things,"

Reported deliberations

A senior US official said President Donald Trump and Rubio are considering firing Guilfoyle, according to The Guardian and the South China Morning Post. The official spoke on condition of anonymity. The two outlets' accounts are nearly identical and appear to come from the same source.

According to the official, a decision is likely this week, after Monday's federal holiday. The South China Morning Post identifies the holiday as Columbus Day. The official said Rubio was particularly angry because Guilfoyle attended most, if not all, of his Athens events. The official also said she greeted him with a bear hug while the allegations were circulating. The Guardian quoted the official as describing Trump and Rubio as "extremely pissed off".

A second anonymous official said the State Department's inspector general is looking into the allegations, according to The Guardian. That official could not say whether a formal investigation had begun. The State Department has declined to comment on a potential inspector general investigation.

The allegations

According to The Guardian, a series of Wall Street Journal reports beginning in late September alleged that Guilfoyle:

• told reception guests the US could undermine the Greek government if it chose to;
• promoted one Greek construction and energy company and let its lobbyist into private diplomatic meetings;
• asked a Trump donor to pay a $100,000 credit card bill before her confirmation hearing, promising him access to officials, citing text messages;
• threatened a host country official and accepted improper gifts and services.

The Daily Mail reported that she had alienated embassy staff, according to The Guardian. Vocemundi did not review these reports directly.

Guilfoyle is a former Fox News Channel host and California prosecutor. She was once engaged to Donald Trump Jr.

What is disputed

Guilfoyle's lawyer says she did nothing wrong. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not name the lawyer or quote the lawyer directly. No named official has confirmed the dismissal deliberations.

What each side says

• Guilfoyle's lawyer: she did nothing wrong. According to The Guardian, Guilfoyle has not addressed the reports directly.
• US embassy in Athens: has tacitly expressed support for her, according to The Guardian.
• Rubio: defended her after the first report but has since declined to comment publicly on the growing allegations.
• Democrats Gregory Meeks, Jeanne Shaheen and Robert Garcia: called for an investigation.

The reports do not include statements from the White House, Trump or the Greek government.

Analysis

The case may show how the administration handles misconduct allegations against an ambassador who was once engaged to the president's son. One possible path is dismissal, which the anonymous official describes as under consideration. Another is that Guilfoyle stays while any inspector general review proceeds. Much remains unverified. The deliberations rest on one anonymous official, the allegations trace to Wall Street Journal reporting cited secondhand, and the status of any inquiry is unclear. Congressional Democrats' calls for an investigation could add pressure either way. Any effect on US-Greek relations cannot be assessed, because the reports reviewed include no Greek government response.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.