Kimberly Guilfoyle, the new American ambassador to Greece, gave her first interview on Greek television to ANT1 and Maria Sarafoglou.

Speaking with the Acropolis in the background, the American diplomat thanked Greece for its warm welcome, saying that she already feels as if she has been in the country for three months and as if she is at home.

“We achieved so much in just a few days,” she said, referring to the energy agreements recently signed at Zappeion, noting that the U.S. government looks forward to deepening cooperation between the two countries.

“Greece will become an energy hub,” she emphasized, adding that this is why Donald Trump chose her as ambassador. “We want to demonstrate that Greece can become the energy hub that will help us counter Russian and Chinese interests. What we are seeking is energy independence, which will strengthen national defense and national security,” she added.

“There are so many opportunities for the U.S. and Greece to cooperate— in the energy sector, in trade, as we saw recently with the P-TEC Conference, with numerous agreements and Memoranda of Cooperation that were signed. We signed so many energy agreements — on the Vertical Corridor, on liquefied natural gas, and on the U.S. being its supplier. There is tremendous enthusiasm. The prime minister is very enthusiastic about the relationship and what we have accomplished. The ministers I work with and whom I met months before arriving — together we achieved significant results that surprised many. Because we achieved so much in just a few days,” she noted.

Citing U.S. law, she said that at the moment the sale of F-35s to Turkey cannot proceed, though she added that we do not know what the future may hold.

“Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his wife work hard, they are smart, talented, and love the country”

Regarding her first impressions of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the ambassador said: “I think I’ve already had four meetings with him. I’ve seen him quite a bit — we had a lot of work. I like him very much. And I like his wife, Mareva, very much. She’s wonderful. Very good people. They work hard. They are smart, talented. They love the country and showed immediate and sincere interest in working with me to ensure a very productive period during my tenure as ambassador.”

She also expressed hope that Donald Trump will visit Greece and make an appearance at the Acropolis. “We would all love that, wouldn’t we?” she said, adding: “I’ll ask him.”

Her personal journey and her 3,000,000 social-media followers

Asked about her personal journey, Kimberly Guilfoyle said, “It’s a path that has evolved beautifully. I started as a prosecutor, fighting for justice, trying my cases without notes, delivering closing arguments and handling everything — from death-penalty cases, domestic violence, sexual assaults, homicides, to major criminal cases involving gangs and drugs.”

“From that point,” she continued, “the transition to television was very easy. I tried the dog-attack case that set a precedent for implied-malice murder in the U.S. It had never happened before. I have always been a pioneer. If something hasn’t been done before, it doesn’t mean I can’t be the first to do it. That’s how my father raised me. Then I went into television and worked for CNN, Fox News, ABC, on court TV, with my own show. It was wonderful. I received six offers in television after that case, as did my colleagues, and then politics followed. I always loved politics, and I started out in San Francisco.”

Responding to a question about having 3,000,000 followers on social media, she said: “I don’t think it’s a bad thing for someone to be recognizable and connected within the government — with the president, who is a good friend of mine. I believe it is a powerful tool for Greece. I think Greeks have really embraced it. If I can use my experience and skills to help bilateral relations, I will gladly do so.”

Her father’s advice

As for the best advice she ever received, she said it came from her father: “When I lost my mother at the age of 10, my father told me: ‘Kimberly, you must be strong. You have talent, abilities, and nothing worse can happen to you in life than losing your mother. Be strong, endure.’ He always said: ‘Whatever boys can do, you can do better.’ I believed him. He was my father.”

Her message to women

“If I can do it, then all women can,” she said when asked about being the first female U.S. ambassador to Greece. “I truly believe that. If you believe in yourself, work hard, try, dedicate time, everything is possible. I truly believe it. I encourage women to fight for what they believe in. To blaze new trails. Don’t be afraid to take risks, to believe in yourself, to learn something new. Try something new. Change jobs.”

Her personal life

Asked about her personal life and past relationships, she did not hesitate to say that she has “a very good relationship with Governor Gavin Newsom. I have a wonderful relationship with Eric Villency, the father of my son Ronan. It’s a wonderful experience. We have 20 years of friendship. What people need to understand about me is that I don’t give up. I will stay with you, I will be loyal. I will always be here — you can count on me. And I am proud of that.”