Kimberly Guilfoyle Promotes Greek Energy Firm Amidst Russian Gas Push

Kimberly Guilfoyle, the former fiancée of Donald Trump Jr., has become a constant figure in high-stakes energy negotiations across Europe. Her travels have focused on pushing multibillion-dollar American liquefied natural gas deals that aim to replace Russian imports. A shadowy businessman named Christos Marafatsos has appeared at almost every one of her meetings during this time. He is now publicly identified as a private lobbyist for Aktor Group, a major Greek construction company.

Marafatsos, who turns 39 next year, was spotted so frequently beside Guilfoyle that some foreign officials mistakenly believed he served as her chief of staff. This assumption proved incorrect because Marafatsos holds no diplomatic title and works for the private sector rather than any embassy. The Wall Street Journal reports that Guilfoyle has consistently promoted Aktor while urging European nations to switch their energy sources away from Moscow.

The sheer presence of this lobbyist in Athens and beyond has confused officials throughout southeastern Europe. Their confusion highlights a growing blur between official diplomacy, political ambition, and private business interests under the current administration. Since arriving in Greece last fall, Guilfoyle has taken on an unusually powerful role that goes far beyond standard ambassadorial duties. She travels across the Balkans to champion a specific plan known as the vertical gas corridor.

This proposed infrastructure would transport US LNG into Greece before sending it north toward Ukraine. During a recent mission to Bulgaria this spring, she advised local leaders to partner with Aktor for these projects. Reports suggest that Guilfoyle also pushed for ties between Aktor and DEPA, which is backed by the Greek state. Aktor itself counts as a newcomer in the gas sector despite its construction background.

Photos from November show Marafatsos walking behind Guilfoyle when she presented her credentials at the presidential palace. Other images capture moments where he sits directly behind her while she watches sports events or attends galas. The scene often includes Panayiotis and Yorgos Angelopoulos, who own Olympiacos Piraeus alongside other local figures. Observers noted that one quote attributed to a source claimed there is no doubt this arrangement functions like an official US position.

The situation raises serious questions about how private contractors influence foreign policy in the region. If Marafatsos truly represents a company rather than the government, his constant presence could skew negotiations away from pure diplomatic goals. Communities in Greece and neighboring countries face potential risks if these deals prioritize corporate interests over local stability or environmental concerns.

Government officials have confirmed a controversial new arrangement involving Ambassador Kristi Noem, often referred to as Guilfoyle in reporting, and Greek businessman Christos Marafatsos. One person familiar with the discussions told The Journal about the setup. Marafatsos sat right next to Guilfoyle during an audience with the president of Bulgaria. His presence stood out because the CEO of Aktor flew her into the country on a private jet, according to The Wall Street Journal. Several attendees at meetings between the two told the newspaper that Marafatsos did not disclose his deep ties to Aktor.

A reporter from The Journal watched them arrive together in the back of a black BMW leading the US convoy for an international energy conference in Thessaloniki earlier this month. Marafatsos slipped into the hotel through a different entrance, staying away from waiting photographers. His role seems particularly unusual given his background as a Maryland-raised businessman who previously co-founded a Washington-area produce distributor. He has been involved in ventures ranging from real estate consulting to an IMAX 3D experience centered on the Acropolis.

Marafatsos registered to lobby for Aktor in November, just days after Guilfoyle arrived in Athens, according to federal records cited by The Journal. Aktor paid him $160,000 through June to help establish connections with the Executive Office of the President, the State Department, and the Energy Department. He subsequently added three other Greece-linked businesses to his roster and reported more than $440,000 in US lobbying income over nine months. Former US officials have raised concerns about this arrangement immediately.

Robin Brooks, a 21-year Foreign Service veteran who served as National Security Council director for the Balkans and Central Europe under President Joe Biden, called the promotion of a foreign company by an American ambassador absolutely problematic. Bringing a registered lobbyist into meetings with foreign officials calls into question whether the meeting is advancing American interests or advancing some sort of private interest. Guilfoyle and the administration strongly reject suggestions that she has behaved improperly. A US Embassy official said Guilfoyle traveled to Bulgaria to advance American interests, specifically increasing sales of US LNG to European partners and decreasing European dependence on Russian gas. The official stated she remained in full compliance with State Department guidance.

Marafatsos said he was proud to champion commercial initiatives that advance U.S. goals. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Guilfoyle as an incredibly effective advocate for the President's agenda, adding that both he and Trump greatly value her work. This situation highlights a complex web of relationships where private interests mix with official diplomacy in ways that former officials find deeply troubling.

Aktor's lawyers firmly rejected allegations that Kimberly Guilfoyle improperly promoted their company. They argued that the firm's involvement with the vertical corridor project began before any contact was made with the ambassador. Regardless of the ongoing controversy, Aktor's access to officials has clearly increased. Its joint venture with DEPA, Atlantic-SEE LNG, has signed agreements or memorandums with companies in Bulgaria, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Romania.

Guilfoyle also helped Aktor secure a proposed $6 billion deal in Albania. If this deal goes through, the country would purchase gas through the company until 2050. Not every promise turns into reality though. Ukraine's state-owned gas company told The Journal on Friday that negotiations over future Atlantic-SEE purchases had stopped completely.

Kimberly Guilfoyle was previously engaged to Donald Trump Jr., which placed her at the center of the Trump family before their high-profile relationship ended. President Donald Trump greets US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle during a Greek Independence Day celebration in the East Room of the White House in March 2026.

Marafatsos' connection with Guilfoyle goes back years. He became involved with Trump's political operation during his first presidential campaign and later chaired Greek Voices for Trump. After Guilfoyle's nomination as ambassador, Marafatsos reportedly helped prepare her for her Senate confirmation hearing, attended her swearing-in, and became an increasingly close adviser.

Trump himself even singled him out during a Greek Independence Day event at the White House. 'Good looking guy, he is,' the president declared. Guilfoyle's arrival in Greece followed her very public split from Trump Jr, whom she began dating during Trump's first term. After photos emerged of Don Jr with Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson, Trump announced in December that Guilfoyle would become his ambassador to Greece.

Since arriving, the former Fox News personality has embraced the role with characteristic flair. She mixes meetings with presidents and ministers with fashion shows, art galas, and social media posts to her nearly two million Instagram followers. But it is Marafatsos who has increasingly emerged as the intriguing figure at her side. People who have attended meetings with the pair say Guilfoyle routinely introduces him simply with: 'This is Christos.'

She has also allegedly directed people to send information or follow up with him after meetings. One investor told The Journal he was surprised to discover afterward that Marafatsos worked for Aktor because the lobbyist had not disclosed the relationship during their meeting. And earlier this month, Marafatsos was once again beside Guilfoyle as she prepared to address officials from nine countries at the Thessaloniki energy conference.

Before she took the stage, Guilfoyle handed him her phone – her lawyer said it was because her dress had no pockets. As Guilfoyle's diplomatic footprint across southeastern Europe grows, so too does the presence of the private businessman and lobbyist who has repeatedly appeared at her side, despite holding no official role in American diplomacy.