Guilfoyle Celebrates U.S.-Greece Bond; Trump Honors Paris Train Hero Alek Skarlatos at Greek Independence Day Event

Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle hosted a Greek Independence Day celebration at the White House in March 2025, calling it “the honor and privilege of a lifetime to serve this country” under “the most important, powerful president that this country has ever seen.” President Trump then welcomed Alek Skarlatos — the Greek-American National Guard soldier who helped stop a terrorist attack on an Amsterdam-to-Paris train in 2015 — sharing that Skarlatos had previously watched the Clint Eastwood film about the event with Trump at the White House, and that during the scene where the heroes subdued the terrorist, “the president hit me on the shoulder and was like, ‘Right on.’”

Guilfoyle: “The Birthplace of Democracy”

Ambassador Guilfoyle opened the event by connecting her personal heritage to the diplomatic mission.

“This is the honor and privilege of a lifetime to serve this country and to serve a country that I love so much, that is so near and dear to my heart with Greece,” Guilfoyle said.

She praised Trump in personal terms: “And to do it under the guidance, the leadership — the most important, powerful president that this country has ever seen, a man of integrity. I know the measure of the man and his character and his strength, and I know his love for the people of Greece, the birthplace of democracy.”

Guilfoyle framed the celebration: “And today we celebrate and cherish our rich history and our enduring bond, the United States and Greece, and the founding of the Hellenic Republic.”

She offered reassurance to Greek-Americans about the administration’s commitment: “Under President Trump, sleep well at night and wake up in the morning feeling hopeful and optimistic for a man that will fight for the economy of this country and of Greece, for religious liberty and freedom, and for the enduring alliance of Greece and the United States.”

The “birthplace of democracy” framing was more than ceremonial. Greece’s role as the originator of democratic governance gave the U.S.-Greece relationship a philosophical foundation that transcended the typical strategic calculations of international diplomacy. When the American ambassador to Greece called the president a defender of democracy, she was drawing a direct line from ancient Athens to modern Washington.

Guilfoyle’s appointment as ambassador to Greece had been one of the more prominent diplomatic assignments of the second term. Her Greek heritage — her mother was Puerto Rican and her father was Irish-American, but she had developed deep connections to the Greek-American community — gave the posting personal resonance beyond its diplomatic significance.

Trump Introduces Skarlatos: “A Big Story”

Trump then introduced the event’s guest of honor by recounting the story that had made Alek Skarlatos internationally famous.

“We’re joined today by one extraordinary Greek-American citizen, Alek Skarlatos,” Trump said. “And you know the story of Alek.”

He provided the background: “Inspired by his grandfather who fought against the Nazis in the Greek resistance, Alek joined the National Guard after high school. Ten years ago, following a deployment to Afghanistan, Alek and his friends were on a train from Amsterdam to Paris.”

The incident Trump was referencing occurred on August 21, 2015, when a heavily armed Islamist terrorist opened fire aboard a high-speed train traveling from Amsterdam to Paris. Skarlatos, along with his childhood friends Spencer Stone (an Air Force Airman) and Anthony Sadler, charged the gunman, subdued him, and prevented what would have been a massacre of hundreds of passengers. Skarlatos, who had just returned from Afghanistan, recognized the sound of an AK-47 being charged and acted immediately.

Trump noted Skarlatos’s continued service: “And today he continues to serve his country as a member of the Oregon State Legislature.” The trajectory from soldier to train hero to state legislator captured a distinctly American story of service, courage, and civic engagement.

Trump called Skarlatos to the podium: “Get up here, Alek. Come on, Alek.” The informality was characteristic of Trump’s event style — breaking protocol to give the spotlight to the person who deserved it.

He offered a self-deprecating assessment: “That’s a big story. I don’t think I would have done that. I don’t know. I’m not sure.”

Skarlatos: “The President Stayed for the Whole Movie”

Skarlatos’s remarks provided the most personal and memorable moment of the event.

“One of the last times I was here was actually to watch our movie that Clint Eastwood directed, and we watched it with the president,” Skarlatos said. “And that was, yeah, I think February of 2018.”

He shared his expectation versus reality: “And I honestly was surprised because I thought the president would watch about 10 minutes and then leave. And he stayed for the whole movie, which I was very impressed by.”

Skarlatos added a self-aware note of humor: “Because we played ourselves in the movie and acting wasn’t the best, but it was a very accurate movie.”

The 2018 Clint Eastwood film, “The 15:17 to Paris,” had taken the unusual approach of casting the three real heroes as themselves rather than using professional actors. The decision made the film more authentic but, as Skarlatos candidly acknowledged, less polished. That Trump had not only hosted a screening but watched the entire film was, for Skarlatos, a measure of genuine interest rather than political obligation.

Then the anecdote that would be replayed across social media: “And the best part was when it came to the part where we were beating up the terrorist, the president hit me on the shoulder and was like, ‘Right on.’”

Skarlatos concluded: “And I was like — well, so that’s one of the top-tier memories for me. So I just wanted to say thanks so much and great to see you again.”

The “right on” moment was pure Trump — an instinctive, visceral reaction to watching American heroes take down a terrorist. There was no diplomatic calculation or scripted response; it was a man watching a fight scene and reacting like anyone in the audience would. The naturalness of the moment was exactly what made it memorable.

Greek Independence Day: The Diplomatic Context

The White House celebration of Greek Independence Day — March 25, commemorating the 1821 revolt against the Ottoman Empire — had been a tradition for decades, reflecting the strong Greek-American community’s political influence and the deep historical connections between American and Greek democratic ideals.

Under the Trump administration, the celebration took on additional significance. Greece had become an increasingly important NATO ally, particularly as tensions with Turkey complicated the eastern Mediterranean security environment. Greece’s decision to increase defense spending, host U.S. military facilities, and align closely with American positions on regional security had made it one of the most reliable European partners.

Guilfoyle’s appointment as ambassador signaled that the administration viewed the U.S.-Greece relationship as a priority worthy of a high-profile ambassador with direct access to the president. The Greek Independence Day event at the White House — with the president personally attending and introducing guests — reinforced the message that Greece’s friendship was valued at the highest levels.

The Skarlatos Story as American Identity

The decision to feature Skarlatos at a Greek Independence Day event was not accidental. His story embodied the values that both nations claimed: courage in the face of danger, service to community, and the willingness of ordinary citizens to act when called upon.

Skarlatos’s grandfather had fought Nazis in the Greek resistance. Skarlatos himself had deployed to Afghanistan with the National Guard, then stopped a terrorist attack on a European train, then entered public service in the Oregon state legislature. The generational arc — from Greek resistance fighter to American combat veteran to citizen legislator — was a story of democratic values transmitted across time and borders.

That Trump had watched the Clint Eastwood film with Skarlatos in 2018 and then invited him back to the White House in 2025 for Greek Independence Day demonstrated a continuity of personal connection that went beyond political utility. Trump remembered the man, remembered the movie, and wanted him at the celebration.

Key Takeaways

• Ambassador Guilfoyle called Trump “the most important, powerful president this country has ever seen” and celebrated the U.S.-Greece bond as rooted in “the birthplace of democracy.”
• Trump honored Alek Skarlatos, the Greek-American National Guard soldier who stopped a 2015 terrorist attack on an Amsterdam-to-Paris train, now serving in the Oregon State Legislature.
• Skarlatos revealed he had watched the Clint Eastwood film about the attack with Trump at the White House in 2018, and was surprised the president stayed for the whole movie.
• During the terrorist fight scene, “the president hit me on the shoulder and was like, ‘Right on’” — which Skarlatos called “one of the top-tier memories for me.”
• The event connected Greek Independence Day to shared democratic values and the administration’s commitment to the U.S.-Greece alliance.