“You Can’t Say No to the Ambassador,” Says Treasury Secretary, as Guilfoyle’s Influence Reaches Athens Early

Before Kimberly Guilfoyle even lands in Athens, it appears her influence in Washington is already working in Greece’s favor.

When Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis met U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant on the sidelines of the IMF meetings, the encounter quickly turned into a reminder of how small and intertwined the Greek American world can be.

While Pierrakakis waited in the conference room, one of the Treasury staffers mentioned a mutual friend: Greek American businessman Christos Marafatsos, a well-known figure in Washington circles and a trusted associate of Guilfoyle. As it happens, Marafatsos and the minister come from the same village.

When Bessant joined the meeting, he quickly picked up on the good mood in the room. “You can’t say no to the ambassador,” he joked to Pierrakis, implying that Guilfoyle, a longtime member of Trump’s inner circle and the incoming U.S. ambassador to Greece, may have helped open that particular door.

The Treasury Secretary is one of the most sought-after figures in Washington these days, with finance ministers from around the world lining up to discuss tariffs and market volatility. Few European ministers, like Pierrakakis, have managed to secure meetings with him at two consecutive IMF gatherings.

For Athens, that offhand comment carried more weight than a dozen press releases. Guilfoyle is already moving pieces in Washington, long before she presents her credentials in Athens. And in this administration, having someone inside Trump’s circle is proving far more effective than any career diplomat’s formal access.

Her posting to Athens may still be weeks away, but Guilfoyle’s network is already at work, opening doors for Greece long before she walks into the embassy gates.

Source: tovima.com