Debbie Matenopoulos Seeks Greece Ambassadorship, Citing Cookbooks and Language Skills

Television personality Debbie Matenopoulos has announced her interest in becoming the next U.S. ambassador to Greece, positioning herself as a candidate with strong ties to the country. Matenopoulos, who previously co-hosted "The View," stated that her qualifications include fluency in the Greek language, possession of a Greek passport, and ownership of homes in Greece.

"No. 1, I speak the language. It was my first language before I even spoke English," Matenopoulos told Page Six. "No. 2, I have a Greek passport."

She further elaborated on her connection to Greece, noting that her "entire family lives there," with the exception of her immediate family, and that she "understands the politics, the government, the people." Matenopoulos also pointed to her professional achievements, including two best-selling Greek cookbooks and a Greek skincare line, as relevant experience.

Matenopoulos believes her extensive media background has prepared her for the role, emphasizing her nearly 30 years of live television experience. "All of my journalism training and live TV skills have seriously prepared me more for this position than most," she said. "You don’t need to have a life in politics to do this… I have 30 years of live TV experience. That’s well over 10,000 hours of speaking in front of people on massive scales, and also bringing people together and making them feel seen."

Her campaign comes as U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle reportedly resigned amid accusations of soliciting donors for personal expenses. President Donald Trump has distanced himself from Guilfoyle, stating, "She, I guess, dated my son a long time ago… But she went to Greece. She was doing a good job, but we didn’t like what we were reading."

Matenopoulos indicated that friends have already contacted Trump on her behalf, expressing her view that the ambassadorship is about fostering international relations rather than political affiliation.