The United States State Department, under President Donald Trump’s administration, has officially terminated the employment of a Foreign Service officer who admitted to hiding a romantic relationship with a Chinese national linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott announced on October 8, 2025, that the diplomat a man whose identity was not disclosed acknowledged concealing the relationship during an internal investigation. The Chinese woman involved is reported to have family ties to the CCP, with her father described as "straight-up communist party."
The diplomat was featured in a secretly recorded video released by conservative activist James O’Keefe, in which he stated he “defied my government for love” and admitted uncertainty about whether his partner could have been a spy. This incident marks one of the first known firings under an executive order signed by Trump soon after his return to office that enforces a zero-tolerance policy toward relationships that could jeopardize national security.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reviewed the case alongside President Trump, reiterated that the administration remains committed to protecting national security by taking stringent measures against employees compromising their duty.
The Chinese government has refrained from commenting directly on the case, calling it a domestic US issue, but warned against what it described as malicious smears and ideological discrimination.
This dismissal aligns with the Trump administration’s broader efforts to tighten scrutiny on China-related security risks, particularly among government personnel and students with alleged CCP connections.