Kimberly Guilfoyle, whose father was born and raised in Co Clare, has been selected by US President-elect Donald Trump to be the next US Ambassador to Greece.

"Today, I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Kimberly Guilfoyle as the United States Ambassador to Greece," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social on Tuesday, December 10.

"For many years, Kimberly has been a close friend and ally.

"Her extensive experience and leadership in law, media, and politics along with her sharp intellect make her supremely qualified to represent the United States, and safeguard its interests abroad.

"Kimberly is perfectly suited to foster strong bilateral relations with Greece, advancing our interests on issues ranging from defense cooperation to trade and economic innovation.

"Congratulations Kimberly!"

Responding, Guilfoyle said she was "honored" to accept Trump's nomination, adding that she looks forward to "earning the support of the US Senate."

She continued: "President Trump’s historic victory is bringing hope and optimism to the American people and to freedom-loving allies across the world.

"It was the democratic values born in Greece that helped shape the founding of America.

"And now, we have an opportunity to honor that history by bringing better days here at home and abroad.

"As ambassador, I look forward to delivering on the Trump agenda, supporting our Greek allies, and ushering in a new era of peace and prosperity."

I’m honored to accept President Trump’s nomination to serve as the next Ambassador to Greece and I look forward to earning the support of the U.S. Senate.

President Trump’s historic victory is bringing hope and optimism to the American people and to freedom-loving allies across… pic.twitter.com/ThyyDwOTNk

— Kimberly Guilfoyle (@kimguilfoyle) December 10, 2024

Who is Kimberly Guilfoyle?

Kimberly Ann Guilfoyle was born March 9, 1969, in San Francisco, California to Mercedes Marie Gerena from Puerto Rico and Anthony Guilfoyle from Ireland. 

Mercedes was a special education teacher and a major inspiration for her young daughter. She tragically passed away from Leukemia when Kimberly was 11.

Kimberly's father Tony immigrated to the US from Ennis, Co Clare in his 20s in 1957 and served for four years in the US Army, from 1958 - 1962. He then got into construction and became a real estate investor. He passed away in 2008.

In 2001, Guilfoyle, then a prosecutor in California, married Gavin Newson, the current (Democratic) Governor of California. The couple jointly filed for divorce in 2005 and were officially divorced in February 2006.

In May of that year, Guilfoyle married Eric Villency and the two welcomed a son that October. In November 2009, Guilfoyle and Villency divorced.

A month after Donald Trump was elected in 2016, it was rumored that Guilfoyle was being considered for the role of Press Secretary for the President. The role ultimately went to Sean Spicer and Guilfoyle continued as a host on Fox's "The Five."

However, on July 24, 2018, about a year after signing a five-year contract extension with Fox, Guilfoyle announced that she was "leaving" the network and "joining America First as Vice Chairwoman, campaigning across the country and firmly standing with President Trump."

A few days after her announcement, HuffPost reported that "Guilfoyle was informed her time at Fox News was up following a human resources investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior including sexual misconduct, and that her lawyers had been involved since the spring."

(The New Yorker later reported in 2020 that after Guilfoyle's exit, Fox News agreed to an out-of-court settlement with an assistant who had accused Guilfoyle of sexual harassment.)

Guilfoyle's exit from Fox came about a month after it was confirmed that she was dating Donald Trump Jr. As Vice Chairwoman of America First, she campaigned for Trump across the country alongside Don Jr for the 2020 US Presidential Election.

In August 2020, Guilfoyle was a featured speaker at the Republican National Convention, which was hosted virtually due to the pandemic. For the line-up, Guilfoyle was described as "the fundraising powerhouse between the campaign and the Republican National Committee as the National Chair of Trump Victory Finance Committee. She also serves as one of the campaign’s senior advisors."

Trump ultimately lost the election in November 2020 to Joe Biden. Guilfoyle and Trump Jr got engaged a month later, but that news was not made public until January 2022.

In June 2022, CNN reported that Guilfoyle was paid $60,000 to introduce her fiance at the 'Stop the Seal' rally in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021, a day that descended into chaos at the Capitol. 

Guilfoyle has remained a prominent supporter of Trump, though was not an official member of his 2024 campaign. In July 2024, just days after an assassination attempt on Trump, Guilfoyle again addressed the Republican National Convention where she referred to herself as "a working mother, a former prosecutor, a Catholic, and a proud Latina."

While Guilfoyle and Trump Jr got engaged more than four years ago, the two are not married, and recent rumors claim that Trump Jr has a new girlfriend.

On December 10 - the day the President-elect announced Guilfoyle as his pick for Ambassador to Greece - the Daily Mail published photos of Don Jr "flaunting his romance with socialite Bettina Anderson," a 38-year-old Palm Beach socialite.

Donald Trump Jr. is seen flaunting his romance with socialite Bettina Anderson - with no sign of fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle https://t.co/x2FbQfkFKz pic.twitter.com/yLoCsJ8ay4

— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) December 10, 2024

Still, Don Jr responded to Guilfoyle's nomination on social media saying he is "so proud of Kimberly."

"She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador," he said on social media. "She will be an amazing leader for America First."

The following day, however, The Daily Mail reported that according to one source familiar with the family: "There is no more Kimberly and Don – at least not romantically. Their engagement hasn't officially been called off yet. They were waiting until after the inauguration to announce."

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Kimberly Guilfoyle's Irish roots

Though he passed away more than a decade ago, Guilfoyle's Irish father Tony continues to have a marked impact on his daughter.

In a Father's Day post on social media in June, Guilfoyle wrote: "Happy Father’s Day to my greatest inspiration, my Father.

"From Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, you embarked on a journey to America, like many before you, chasing the American Dream and steadfastly providing for our family."

Guilfoyle went on to write how one of her "most cherished memories" is when her father took her to Ireland to meet her grandparents for the first time.

"The photo of us on the Shannon River remains a treasure," she said.

In her youth, Guilfoyle returned to her father's native town of Ennis every summer, working in her family’s local store.

“I grew up partly in Ireland,” she's told The Times in 2017.

“Every summer from the age of five, I lived in Ennis where my Guilfoyle relatives had businesses on O’Connell Street — a gift shop called Dalcassian House, and Dalcassian Printers. I worked in the shop, which sold lovely china and Waterford Crystal.

“I was about 11 or 12 and I got about IR£10 a week. It instilled a sense of responsibility in me, putting in the hours, and earning the money."

Guilfoyle later studied law at Trinity College Dublin. While there, she published research on international children's rights and European Economic Community law.

Related: Irish American, US Politics