Who is the proud Orthodox Greek-American that Trump chose for a top job in the State Department?
How a Philly restaurant owner landed a top State Department job
By Rob Tornoe
First, Michael Karloutsos ran a posh Philadelphia restaurant that got tangled in controversy. Then he hosted a New York City radio show. Now, he’s in a top job in President Trump’s State Department.
Karloutsos, a politically connected consultant and former owner of the Water Works restaurant at the foot of the Art Museum, became deputy chief of protocol in the State Department in late July. The top job in the Office of Protocol remains unfilled, leaving Karloutsos as acting chief.
In that role, the former restaurateur is responsible for planning foreign trips for the president and vice president, and setting up protocol between the United States and other governments across the globe.
Karloutsos, 46, is a registered Republican, but his political connections stretch across the aisle. He donated a nominal amount to Trump’s campaign; has given to Pennsylvania senators from both parties; has hosted fund-raisers and events for Democrats at Water Works, including a primary-night party for then-presidential candidate Barack Obama; and was a major bundler for former President George W. Bush’s 2004 campaign.
In Philadelphia, he is primarily known for his involvement in the troubled Water Works restaurant, which turned to private-dining and events-only in 2015. The restaurant along the Schuylkill was the site of numerous political fund-raisers, and a source of controversy when it was disclosed that taxpayers had mistakenly been paying its utilities.
He is an active member of the Greek Orthodox Church, and his connections in the Orthodox community appear to have put him on the radar for the State Department position, according to a source and to reports in Greek American news outlets.
For the last 25 years, Karloutsos has been involved in the planning and execution of trips on behalf of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, regarded as the spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians.
Karloutsos’ work planning and directing Bartholomew’s trips garnered the attention of George Gigicos, a fellow member of the Greek Orthodox Church and self-described “advance man” who has worked for various Republican politicians over the last 17 years, including Trump.
Great seeing my #Brother #Archon #GeorgeGigicos in action #WhiteHouse Great lunch in the #WhiteHouseMess topped off with #freedom dessert pic.twitter.com/FZ6If2xuig
— michael karloutsos (@makarloutsos) February 3, 2017
A source confirmed news reports that Gigicos and former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, who is also a member of the church, recommended Karloutsos for the prominent State Department job after Trump won the presidency.
“I thank God I that have good friends within the administration who saw the work that I have done and they felt I was ready to assume that job,” Karloutsos told the National Herald, a weekly Greek American newspaper in the New York metropolitan area, which first reported his position.
Karloutsos and the State Department denied requests for an interview, though the department confirmed Karloutsos started July 23.
