President Donald Trump’s ambassador to Greece is facing scrutiny after leaked documents revealed a series of high-cost lifestyle perks tied to her post. Kimberly Guilfoyle—former Fox News host and one-time fiancée of Donald Trump Jr.—reportedly approved a $58,000 basketball court at the upscale Jefferson House residence in Athens, where she has been staying while serving as the top U.S. diplomat, according to a report from The Daily Mail.
“It started with a courtside seat and a custom jersey – and now American taxpayers are set to foot the bill,” the outlet wrote. “[Kimberly Guilfoyle] has thrown herself into the city’s glittering social scene: receptions, courtside seats, and late-night parties,” the report added. “And to document it all, she’s seeking to add a personal photographer to the US government payroll at $29,000 per year.
Kimberly Guilfoyle, who was previously married to Gavin Newsom, is said to have formed friendships with Panagiotis and Giorgos Angelopoulos, owners of the Olympiacos basketball team. She was gifted a jersey that pays tribute to Greek basketball icon Vassilis Spanoulis. Guilfoyle has attended games with the two brothers, along with Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley and Greek-American guard Tyler Dorsey.
“In the spirit of friendship, respect, and US-Greek ties,” the 57-year-old wrote on Facebook, sharing photos of herself exchanging jerseys with players.
According to the report, Kimberly Guilfoyle is also seeking to hire a photographer on an “as-needed basis,” including “after-hours and weekend” work totaling up to 20 hours per month. The proposed contract, dated February 20, would require quick turnaround times, with edited images delivered within 24 hours—or sooner if requested by the embassy. Guilfoyle kicked off her diplomatic role with a nightclub event hosted by Greek pop star Konstantinos Argiros in late October.
Kimberly Guilfoyle will soon move to this mansion in Athens when she becomes US ambassador to Greece https://t.co/HweOvUaORI pic.twitter.com/eLFV1z0qSM
— New York Post (@nypost) December 11, 2024
“They were joined by billionaire ticket resale mogul Eric Vassilatos, who was recently seen vacationing with Guilfoyle in London and Miami,” the outlet continued.
The United States Government has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans overseas. One of our strongest partners in these efforts is the Overseas Security Advisory Council, which brings together @StateDept experts and private sector security professionals to… pic.twitter.com/7TUE1m6p9C
— Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle (@USAmbassadorGR) March 10, 2026
Expense reports for residences of U.S. ambassadors typically run through the U.S. State Department, and its Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations. The bureau manages facilities and renovations of embassies and ambassador residences all over the world. Routine upgrades and repairs for embassy residences ― also known as chief of mission residences ― can vary from anywhere around $10,000 to millions of dollars for things like security upgrades or damage repairs to overall embassy renovations for official purposes.
Reports from the State Department on budget allocations and embassy building costs show embassy and residence renovations ranging from hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide to typical renovations in the $10,000 range.
Upgrades themselves are not out of the ordinary, but additions or upgrades that are more on the luxurious or personal side tend to be scrutinized more. Recreation courts are also not commonly mentioned in news reports or documents when compared to other upgrades or repairs. Having a full-time photographer on contract for the ambassador’s use is also not typical.
According to federal instructions on embassy staffing and previous iterations of the State Department staff directory, photographers have been normally contracted on an as-needed basis for larger events, not on a continual contract for personal use of the ambassador. (Embassies are also typically staffed with people in communication jobs and public affairs to conduct interviews and photography for official use.)