A U.S. State Department foreign service officer has been terminated after concealing a romantic relationship with the daughter of a Chinese Communist Party official, marking the first dismissal under a Trump executive order targeting diplomatic accountability.
Daniel Choi was fired following an internal review ordered by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and approved by President Donald Trump. The dismissal comes after undercover footage from O’Keefe Media Group captured Choi admitting he deliberately hid the relationship from State Department security officials.
What the Video Revealed
In the recorded conversation, Choi acknowledged his girlfriend’s father was “straight-up Communist Party” and that she “could have been a spy.” He told the undercover journalist he defied security protocols by not reporting the close personal contact with a foreign national.
The State Department confirmed Choi violated long-standing security requirements mandating immediate disclosure of “close and continuing contact” with individuals connected to hostile governments. “I defied my government for love,” Choi said in the footage.
Intelligence Concerns
The case reflects growing worry among U.S. intelligence agencies about Chinese espionage tactics targeting American officials through personal relationships. A former senior intelligence official said, “Romantic and social connections remain one of the most exploited vectors in Chinese espionage,” noting that unreported relationships create significant vulnerabilities.
Counterintelligence experts have warned that Beijing systematically leverages romantic entanglements, financial incentives, and academic connections to gather sensitive information from U.S. personnel.
Broader Crackdown
Secretary Rubio has pursued an aggressive strategy against Chinese influence since taking office, tightening vetting procedures for foreign contacts and expanding background checks for personnel in East Asia and Washington-based policy roles. The State Department said Choi’s case demonstrates no official is exempt from security standards.