Ambassador to Greece nominee Kimberly Guilfoyle appeared to be engaged in some serious damage control during an interview Thursday with Greek tycoon John Catsimatidis following a report that she called Greeks “freeloaders.”
Guilfoyle, who helmed MAGA's “mamacita” until things cooled with fiancé Donald Trump Jr., made the comment while co-hosting Fox News' The Five in 2015.
The subject was the Greek government's bailout package from the European Union, which the country voted to reject, prompting Guilfoyle to rant about the laziness of the Greeks.
“You're retiring too early… And that's part of the problem. For example, you have politicians making out-of-control promises, buying votes with rights they cannot support,” she said, adding, “It doesn't matter if you made great yogurt. I don't care.”
Like when a “dog pees on the carpet,” Guilfoyle said Greeks needed to be trained.
Guilfoyle, 55, however, played a different tune for Catsimatidis, 76, who is worth an estimated $4.5 billion as president, CEO and chairman of New York supermarket chains Gristedes and D'Agostino and other real estate and airline companies. Catsimatidis is also considered somewhat of a hero in Greece, and has reportedly even been asked to run for president.
“I just want to say that one of the reasons why I was so excited and really wanted to serve as ambassador to Greece is because of my great love and admiration for you, for your family, for the incredible country of Greece,” Guilfoyle said, before he showered Catsimatidis with even more platitudes. “You are loved there, you are such an iconic Greek-American businessman and truly an entrepreneur, and someone who is living the American dream, and you are such an inspiration to so many and a very good friend of the president.”
Guilfoyle then asked what Catsimatidis thought of newly elected President Donald Trump's appearance at the stock market.
“I think the way he spoke today is the way America would like to hear it. He talked about lowering taxes. He talked about working to lower the price of oil,” said Catsimatidis — who then went on a tirade about Biden, the increased price of oil and gas, groceries, and was surprised that Vice President Kamala Harris got “no votes at all.” given the high inflation rates.
Catsimatidis talked about how hard his family has worked, with Guilfoyle co-signing, “Oh, your family works very hard,” shaking her head in a show of seriousness. “All of the above.”
After bonding over their respective “immigrant backgrounds” — with Guilfoyle born to a “first-generation” Puerto Rican mother and an Irish father, and discussing Catsimatidis' offer to become president of Greece — she showered Catsimatidis and Greece with more praise.
“Fun fact: every year on my birthday I always want Greek food,” she claimed. “For example, I like lamb. I like the Greek honey, the yogurt and everything together.”
During her stay in San Francisco, Guilfoyle said she went to a “fantastic” Greek restaurant she and Catsimatidis called Kokkari.
“Is that the property of our friend Marcus?” Catsimatidis asked.
“Yes, exactly!” said Guilfoyle, before sending Catsimatidis away. “Look at this screen here,” she said, pointing to herself, “the future ambassador to Greece, and let's get him his presidency.”
Although Don Jr. hasn't confirmed or denied that he and Guilfoyle are over, he said after being spotted with socialite Bettina Anderson that he was “proud” of Guilfoyle's appointment as ambassador.
“She loves America and has always wanted to serve the country as an ambassador,” Don Jr. wrote. on X.
The Daily Beast reached out to Kokkari for comment but did not receive a response.
