Greek-American television host Debbie Matenopoulos has pitched herself to replace Kimberly Guilfoyle as US Ambassador to Greece, in a video posted to Instagram.
Matenopoulos, a panellist on the first two seasons of “The View” from 1997 to 1999, posted the video after Guilfoyle left the post amid allegations of improper conduct, which Guilfoyle denies.
Wearing a polo shirt with the Greek flag and the word “Greece”, Debbie Matenopoulos set out why she believes she should get the job.
“Number one, I speak the language. It’s my first language before I even spoke English. Number two, I have a Greek passport,” she said.
Debbie Matenopoulos lists her Greek ties
She said she holds Greek and American passports and that her entire family, apart from her immediate family, lives in Greece. She was the first in her family to be born in America.
Matenopoulos also said she owns homes in Greece and travels there every summer. “I understand the politics, I understand the government, I understand the people. I have many connections. And I love the country,” she said.
She added that she has two best-selling Greek cookbooks and a Greek skincare line. In the caption of the post, she listed a journalism degree from New York University and 30 years of experience in live television.
“No disrespect” to Guilfoyle
Matenopoulos said she meant “no disrespect” to Guilfoyle. She argued that ambassadors do not need a diplomatic background, only to be appointed by the president and approved by the US Senate.
“You don’t need any qualifications, really, to be a US Ambassador to any country,” she said.
She told Page Six that friends had already contacted President Donald Trump on her behalf. “This is not about a political party or an administration for that matter,” she said.
“Please let me represent you as your new US Ambassador to Greece,” she said, closing her plea to the president, the Senate and the people of both countries.
Guilfoyle’s departure has dominated Greek-American news this month, most recently with a lawsuit filed against Kimberly Guilfoyle by a Trump donor.
Source: TV Insider
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