Kimberly Guilfoyle’s dream posting in Greece may be turning into a nightmare for the Trump administration. Donald J. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are reportedly considering giving their ambassador the boot after a series of damaging reports about her conduct before and during her time in Athens.
The Associated Press reports that a senior U.S. official said Trump and Rubio were “extremely pissed off” over the allegations and could decide Guilfoyle’s fate as soon as this week. Rubio was reportedly particularly angry, having just visited Athens while the controversy was circling the ambassador. Guilfoyle greeted him with a bear hug, apparently providing a rather awkward photo opportunity amid the growing mess.
The reports paint a picture of an ambassador whose diplomatic priorities may need some serious recalibration. According to the Wall Street Journal, Guilfoyle allegedly told guests at a reception that the United States may undermine the Greek government, promoted the interests of a Greek construction and energy company, and allowed its lobbyist into private diplomatic meetings. Nothing says diplomatic tact quite like allegedly treating your host country’s government as something Washington could casually meddle with.
There is the reported $100,000 credit-card bill, and the WSJ had receipts. The Journal reported that Guilfoyle asked a Trump donor to pay the bill shortly before her confirmation hearing, allegedly promising him access to administration officials in return. Because apparently, the revolving door between political access and big-money favors wasn’t complicated enough already.
And the complaints didn’t stop there. Another Journal report described Guilfoyle’s anger over being excluded from a Greek-themed event at the World Economic Forum in Davos. She reportedly demanded to attend while boasting about luxury trips to France with energy company executives. Meanwhile, a Daily Mail report alleged that she had alienated staff at the U.S. Embassy in Athens and overstepped the boundaries of acceptable conduct for America’s top representative in Greece.
It’s quite a résumé for someone entrusted with representing the United States overseas.
Democratic lawmakers have called for an investigation, adding to the pressure on the administration. Guilfoyle’s lawyers have denied wrongdoing, and the allegations have not been established as fact.
For now, her diplomatic future is still uncertain. But if Trump and Rubio decide they’ve had enough, Guilfoyle could discover that even a plum ambassadorial appointment comes with an expiration date — particularly when the headlines keep getting worse.
Of course, Rubio previously seemed more upset that the story broke than by the reason it was hitting the headlines.
Perhaps the next assignment will come with a smaller expense account and considerably less drama. Or, and stay with me for a second, she could get a job at Hooters.