President-elect Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he intends to nominate former Fox News personality Kimberly Guilfoyle and his longtime friend billionaire Tom Barrack to serve as ambassadors to Greece and Turkey, respectively. These nominations were made public via a pair of social media posts from Trump.
Trump praised Barrack’s extensive background in finance, noting that “For three decades, Tom successfully managed a global private equity firm. He is a well-respected and experienced voice of reason to a wide range of thought leaders in both political and business circles.” Barrack has significant connections, having chaired Trump’s inaugural committee.
Barrack was acquitted last year of charges related to foreign lobbying during Trump’s administration, adding a layer of complexity to his nomination.
In a separate announcement for Guilfoyle, who has been a close ally to Trump and is engaged to his son, Trump emphasized her capabilities in fostering bilateral relations, stating: “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.”
Both nominations will require Senate confirmation, and Guilfoyle expressed an eagerness to gain that support. She stated: “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.”
Additionally, last month Trump nominated Charles Kushner, Jared Kushner’s father, to serve as ambassador to France, highlighting a trend of family-associated nominations in his administration.
