Kimberly Guilfoyle, U.S. Ambassador to Greece, is facing questions after a registered lobbyist, Christos Marafatsos, repeatedly accompanied her to diplomatic meetings in Europe. Marafatsos represents Aktor, which recently agreed to a reported $6 billion U.S. LNG supply deal with Albania. Critics say his presence and reportedly undisclosed ties raise potential conflict-of-interest concerns, while the U.S. Embassy says Guilfoyle complied with State Department guidance.
Ambassador Guilfoyle Under Scrutiny After Lobbyist Frequently Attends U.S. LNG Negotiations
Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS
Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. Ambassador to Greece and former fiancée of Donald Trump Jr., has drawn scrutiny after a registered lobbyist for a Greek energy firm repeatedly accompanied her to high-level diplomatic meetings across Europe.
According to reporting by the Wall Street Journal, 39-year-old businessman Christos Marafatsos attended numerous meetings with foreign officials alongside Ambassador Guilfoyle. His presence was frequent enough that some officials assumed he was part of her official team.
U.S. President Donald Trump looks as Kimberly Guilfoyle speaks, during the Greek Independence Day celebration at the White House in Washington, D.C., March 24, 2025. / Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS
Who Is Involved
Marafatsos is a registered lobbyist for Aktor, a Greek infrastructure and energy company that recently signed a reported $6 billion agreement to supply U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Albania. The Journal says Guilfoyle has promoted Aktor during her diplomatic visits, including recommending the company during talks in Bulgaria.
Concerns Raised
Critics say bringing a private-sector lobbyist into meetings with foreign officials raises potential conflicts of interest. Robin Brooks, a career foreign service officer who served as National Security Council director for the Balkans and Central Europe under the Biden administration, called such advocacy "absolutely problematic," warning it can blur whether meetings advance U.S. interests or private commercial ones.
U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle speaks after ExxonMobil Energean and Helleniq Energy signed an agreement , during Transatlantic Energy Cooperation (P-TEC) in Athens, Greece, November 6, 2025 / Louisa Gouliamaki / REUTERS
"There is no doubt that this is kind of an official position of the U.S. government," said a person familiar with the conversations, as quoted by the Wall Street Journal.
Responses
A U.S. Embassy official said Ambassador Guilfoyle was in "full compliance with State Department guidance" during her trip to Bulgaria. When the Albania LNG agreement was announced in April, Guilfoyle was quoted saying she was "honored to travel to Tirana to advance POTUS' energy agenda" and to participate in the signing of a 20-year agreement between Albania, Venture Global, and Aktor LNG USA.
President Donald Trump nominated Guilfoyle — a former Fox host and one-time lawyer — as U.S. Ambassador to Greece in December 2024, describing her at the time as a "close friend and ally" capable of strengthening bilateral ties on defense, trade, and economic issues.
What to watch: Whether State Department guidance or additional disclosures clarify the role of private lobbyists accompanying U.S. officials on diplomatic visits, and whether more details emerge about Marafatsos's participation in meetings where Aktor was discussed.
Help us improve.
