President Donald Trump's decision to bypass Greece for a potential stopover after the NATO summit in Turkey has led to diplomatic embarrassment for U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle and raised questions about her influence within the administration. Trump returned directly to Washington following the summit in Ankara, despite Greece being a short flight away.
In May, Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host, had publicly stated that Trump would visit Greece, telling a local network, "he is going to come to Greece." While the White House at the time indicated no such trip was scheduled, diplomatic insiders told the Daily Mail that the Greeks are now feeling "disappointed" and "jaded." One source suggested that Guilfoyle had "confused her personal vision board with the official White House schedule."
Trump's absence is seen by some as highlighting growing concerns in Athens that Guilfoyle's influence on U.S. foreign policy has not met expectations. There are also fears that U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack may hold more sway in the Trump administration, despite Guilfoyle's past family ties to the president. Guilfoyle was previously engaged to Donald Trump Jr. and was nominated for the ambassador role shortly after their split.
In February, Guilfoyle reportedly visited Washington to personally urge Trump to commit to a high-profile visit to Greece, an effort to bolster her standing. This occurred years after an on-air remark in 2015 where Guilfoyle had described Greek people as "freeloaders" and accused them of "retiring too early."
Despite the perceived snub, Guilfoyle has hosted lower-ranking Trump officials, including Secretaries of the Interior and Energy. However, a visit from the president was what she reportedly most desired. The NATO summit's proximity to Greece made a stopover seem logistically feasible.
Arms Sale Controversy
The situation unfolds as the Trump administration moves forward with a controversial $700 million arms sale to Turkey, including stealth fighter jets. This sale has met with apprehension due to Turkey's ties with Russia and Middle East conflicts. Trump indicated the sale was a reward for Turkish President Erdogan's stance on the war between Israel and Iran.
This stance contrasts with Guilfoyle's previous position during her confirmation hearing, where she defended Turkey's exclusion from the F-35 fighter jet program in 2019 due to its purchase of Russian defense systems. Recently, Guilfoyle met with former Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who urged the administration to halt further military equipment sales to Turkey.
Diplomatic Priorities
Greece was reportedly not Guilfoyle's initial preference; she had initially lobbied for the position of U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, a request that was denied. The ambassadorship in Athens was seen as a compromise.
Ambassador Guilfoyle currently resides in Jefferson House, the ambassador's official residence in Athens. A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Athens stated that Guilfoyle has consistently hoped for a presidential visit when Trump's schedule permits and that such visits have never been tied to specific events. A White House spokesperson reiterated that the President's trip was solely for NATO and that no other stops were planned, adding that Ambassador Guilfoyle has been effective in advancing the "America First agenda abroad."