President Donald Trump is “looking at” firing U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle after mounting reports alleging improper conduct before and during her tenure in Athens.
“Well, we’re looking at it,” Trump told reporters at the White House before leaving for an Ohio campaign rally Monday afternoon. “Yeah, we’re not happy.”
Trump’s comments came after a senior U.S. official said Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were “extremely pissed off” by reports about Guilfoyle’s conduct and expected to make a decision on her future this week.
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The Wall Street Journal has reported a series of allegations involving Guilfoyle, including that she asked a Trump donor to pay a $100,000 credit card bill before her confirmation hearing while allegedly promising access to administration officials. The Journal also reported claims that Guilfoyle 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 was in Greece last week, was frustrated by reporters repeatedly asking him to address 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 Thursday at the foot of his plane as Guilfoyle, who was there to see him depart Greece, looked on.
“It’s not the gospel. It’s not the gospel for me. That’s not the way we do things.”
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A day earlier, Rubio said he would not discuss the allegations while visiting a foreign country, but defended the embassy’s work.
“Suffice it to say our embassy here is doing a great job,” Rubio said at a joint news conference with the Greek foreign minister. “Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here.”
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Vice President JD Vance also weighed in last week, saying he did not know the full details of the specific case but rejected the idea of selling access to government officials.
“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.”
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Guilfoyle has denied wrongdoing through her lawyers. In a statement released late Sunday, attorneys David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall said the money she sought from the Trump 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 impropriety related to Guilfoyle’s travel on private planes, saying she “sought, obtained and followed State Department guidance and followed the department’s travel regulations.”
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A U.S. official told The Associated Press that the State Department’s inspector general is looking into the allegations, though it was not clear whether a formal investigation had 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.
Guilfoyle is a former California prosecutor who was once married to Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom and was engaged to Donald Trump Jr.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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