Kimberly Guilfoyle, President Donald Trump's ambassador to Greece, has been busted engaging in a "lavish" spending spree at her Athens residence, drawing new scrutiny as she burns through taxpayer funds.
Guilfoyle, who was also previously engaged to Donald Trump Jr. until 2024, currently resides at the Jefferson House, the customary home of the U.S. ambassador to Greece and a common venue for diplomatic events. According to a Wednesday report originating in the Daily Mail, she recently requested 50,000 euros, or about $58,000, to construct a new basketball court at the residence. She has also requested roughly $29,000 to pay for a new personal photographer, according to a contract that the outlet obtained.
Guilfoyle signed off on the order for the construction in December, in the wake of meeting "newfound friends," Panagiotis and Giorgos Angelopoulos, brothers involved in the oil and steel shipping industries, who also co-own Greece's Olympiacos basketball team. The Mail noted that the new ambassador attended a game with brothers, courtside seats and all, just weeks before ordering the basketball court. The pair also gifted her a jersey for the famed Greek basketball player, Vassilis Spanoulis.
"The new court is set to be built beside the estate’s pool and manicured gardens, adding another luxury feature to the already opulent property the 57-year-old has called home since November," the report detailed, later adding, "The contract includes strict terms: the court must be built in 45 days, with fines if it runs past schedule and includes a menu of optional add-ons like chain-link fencing, windscreens and LED lighting that could push costs even higher."
The report continued: "The courtside diplomacy continued in February when Guilfoyle was pictured with Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley and Greek-American shooting guard Tyler Dorsey. 'In the spirit of friendship, respect and US-Greek ties,' the 57-year-old wrote on Facebook, sharing photos of herself embracing the hunky players at a jersey swap. To capture these transatlantic ties better, a new photographer is to be hired on an 'as-needed basis,' including 'after-hours and weekend' shifts for up to 20 hours a month, according to a prospective contract dated February 20. The work order mandates that edited images be delivered within a day, or sooner if requested by the embassy."
The combined new costs of the basketball court and photographer are just shy of $90,000. As an ambassador, these costs would be covered by taxpayer dollars if they go through.
A Daily Beast report on the revelations noted that Guilfoyle "has embraced a high-profile diplomatic lifestyle" since arriving at her post on November 1 of last year, including a "luxury hotel dinner" and a special "nightclub event" hosted by Greek singer, Konstantinos Argyros.
"Since then, she has launched into a string of high-profile appearances, attending elite social events, sitting courtside at local basketball games, and reportedly even taking excursions in the Aegean Sea aboard Vassilatos’ yacht," The Daily Beast detailed. "Last week, she returned to Washington to attend an event at the White House."
