Kimberly Guilfoyle, U.S. Ambassador to Greece, is reported to have requested complimentary luxury items and special treatment while posted in Athens, including expensive Champagne and an earlier $58,000 basketball court request. A disputed nearly $1,800 dinner bill at the Four Seasons Astir Palace and the presence of a lobbyist, Christos Marafatsos, at some meetings have raised ethical questions. Supporters in the administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House spokespeople, have defended her performance.
Kimberly Guilfoyle's Lavish Requests in Athens Prompt Ethics Questions
Backgrid
U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle has come under fresh scrutiny after media reports detailed requests for luxury treatment during her Athens posting, including expensive champagne, a contested dinner bill and an earlier request for a $58,000 basketball court at her residence.
Don Jr. and Guilfoyle split up in 2024. / Brian Snyder / REUTERS
Reported Requests and Incidents
According to published accounts, Guilfoyle's team has asked local hosts and a noted Greek hospitality figure, Giannis Chorozoglou, to arrange services and favors—reportedly including two cases of high-end Champagne. When Chorozoglou purportedly offered a discount rather than a full comp, a member of Guilfoyle's entourage allegedly reacted angrily, saying the bottles were "supposed to be free for the ambassador."
Kimberly Guilfoyle at Psarou Beach on the Greek island of Mykonos with U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Bill White. / Backgrid
Another episode cited by the press involved a nearly $1,800 dinner at the Five-Star Four Seasons Astir Palace on May 31. Guilfoyle attended the meal with Christos Marafatsos, identified as a lobbyist for Aktor, her son Ronan and Ronan's father, Eric Villency. The party reportedly asked that the bill be waived. The check was reportedly forwarded to the U.S. Embassy; an official told the Daily Mail that Guilfoyle ultimately paid the tab.
Athens College
Ethics and Access Concerns
Reports that lobbyist Christos Marafatsos attended some of Guilfoyle's meetings with foreign officials prompted questions about potential conflicts of interest. Robin Brooks, who served as National Security Council director for the Balkans and Central Europe under President Biden, told the Wall Street Journal that a lobbyist's presence "calls into question whether the meeting is advancing American interests or advancing some sort of private interest."
U.S. President Donald Trump kisses Kimberly Guilfoyle, during the Greek Independence Day celebration at the White House in Washington, D.C., March 24, 2025. / Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS
"She is able to intimidate Athens Embassy personnel, State Department higher-ups and even Greek and regional government officials using the Trump card," one source told the Mail, adding that Guilfoyle "has Trump's phone number on her cellphone and can wield that like a weapon imperiously."
Responses and Official Reactions
Media outlets report that the White House and State Department were contacted for comment. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was quoted defending Guilfoyle as an "incredibly effective advocate" for the administration's agenda in Europe, saying President Trump and he "greatly value the Ambassador's pivotal work and leadership in the region." White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers dismissed the allegations as "trash" and said Guilfoyle had done an "incredible job." The Daily Beast also sought comment from the State Department and the White House.
These published reports have fueled debate about diplomatic protocol, the use of public resources, and how political appointees engage with local officials and private interests while serving overseas. The claims remain subject to verification and follow-up reporting.
Help us improve.
