State Dept. fires diplomat over concealed relationship with Chinese national; Trump approved
The State Department fired a diplomat, with President Trump approving the dismissal, after it emerged he concealed a romantic relationship with a Chinese national alleged to have ties to the Chinese Communist Party. An undercover video shows the diplomat saying he "defied my government for love" and acknowledging she "could have been a spy" and noting her father's CCP affiliation; the Chinese Foreign Ministry declined to comment while State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott stressed a "zero-tolerance" policy for conduct that could undermine U.S. national security.
National Security
Politics
đ Key Facts
- On Oct. 9, 2025, the State Department fired an unnamed U.S. diplomat over a concealed romantic relationship with a Chinese national.
- An O'Keefe Media Group undercover video features the diplomat saying he 'defied my government for love' and acknowledging the woman 'could have been a spy.'
- The diplomat in the video also notes the woman's father is a member of the Chinese Communist Party, suggesting potential ties to Beijing.
- State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott emphasized a 'zero-tolerance' policy for employees who undermine national security.
- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun declined to comment on the case and criticized what he called 'maliciously smearing China,' according to the AP citation in the report.
đ° Sources (2)
US diplomat fired for romantic relationship with woman with ties to Chinese Communist Party
New information:
- Fox News reports the unnamed diplomat appears in an O'Keefe Media Group undercover video saying he 'defied my government for love' and acknowledging the woman 'could have been a spy' with a father in the Communist Party.
- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun declined comment but criticized 'maliciously smearing China,' per AP cited in the article.
- State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott is quoted emphasizing a 'zero-tolerance' policy for employees undermining national security.