Gordon Sondland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gordon Sondland
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A portrait of Sondland from 2017
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| 20th United States Ambassador to the European Union | |
| In office July 9, 2018 – February 7, 2020 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Anthony L. Gardner |
| Succeeded by | Mark Gitenstein Ronald Gidwitz (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Gordon David Sondland
July 16, 1957 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Katherine Durant (divorced in 2021) |
| Education | University of Washington |
Gordon David Sondland (born July 16, 1957) is an American businessman who founded the hotel company Provenance Hotels. From 2018 to 2020, he served as the United States Ambassador to the European Union.
In 2019, Sondland became a key witness in the first impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump. An impeachment inquiry is a process where Congress investigates if a president has committed a serious wrongdoing. After the inquiry, President Trump fired Sondland from his ambassador role on February 7, 2020.
Contents
Early Life and Business Career
Sondland was born in Seattle, Washington. His parents were Jewish immigrants who had escaped Europe before World War II. In Seattle, his family started a dry-cleaning business. Sondland attended the University of Washington but left to start his career in real estate.
In 1985, at the age of 28, Sondland bought his first hotel. This was the beginning of his company, Provenance Hotels. The company became known for buying and managing unique hotels across the United States. Many of these hotels were historic buildings that were remodeled with themes related to the city's local art and culture.
Political Life
Sondland became involved in politics in Oregon. He advised Governor Ted Kulongoski and helped bring TV shows like Leverage and Grimm to be filmed in the state.
He also worked with national politicians. In 2007, President George W. Bush appointed him to a commission for the White House Fellows program. He later supported Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign.
During the 2016 election, Sondland first supported Donald Trump. He later donated $1 million to Trump's presidential inauguration committee. In 2024, Sondland announced he was endorsing Trump for president again.
Ambassador to the European Union
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In 2018, President Trump chose Sondland to be the U.S. Ambassador to the European Union (EU). The EU is a group of European countries that work together on trade, security, and other issues. The ambassador's job is to represent the United States to the EU.
As ambassador, Sondland focused on strengthening trade between the U.S. and Europe. He also spoke out against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. He argued that it would give Russia too much power over Europe's energy supply.
Role in the Trump-Ukraine Scandal
In 2019, Sondland became a central figure in events involving President Trump and Ukraine. A government employee, known as a whistleblower, raised concerns about a phone call between Trump and Ukraine's new president, Volodymyr Zelensky.
The whistleblower's report said that Sondland and another diplomat had advised Ukraine's leaders on how to handle President Trump's requests. These requests were about Ukraine investigating certain matters.
The Investigation and Testimony
Congress began an impeachment inquiry to investigate these events. Text messages between Sondland and other diplomats were released. In one message, another diplomat, Bill Taylor, worried that U.S. aid to Ukraine was being held back to pressure the country into helping with a political campaign.
Sondland was called to testify before Congress. At first, he said he didn't remember many details. But after other officials testified, he updated his story. He said that a White House meeting for President Zelensky was dependent on Ukraine announcing investigations that President Trump wanted.
During his public testimony, Sondland made a famous statement. When asked if there was a "quid pro quo" (a Latin phrase meaning "this for that"), he said, "The answer is yes." He explained that a White House meeting for Zelensky was offered in exchange for the announcement of investigations.
Sondland said he was following President Trump's orders. He also said that other top officials, like Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, knew what was happening. He and two other officials, Rick Perry and Kurt Volker, became known as "the three amigos" for their work on Ukraine policy.
Removal from Office
The House of Representatives impeached President Trump, but the Senate acquitted him. Two days after the trial ended, on February 7, 2020, Sondland was fired from his job as ambassador.
Later, Sondland sued the U.S. government for $1.8 million in legal fees from the impeachment inquiry. In 2025, the government agreed to pay the settlement.
Charity Work and Personal Life
In 1999, Sondland and his then-wife, Katherine Durant, started a foundation to support communities. The foundation has given millions to causes like the Portland Art Museum and cancer research at Oregon Health & Science University.
Sondland was married to Katherine Durant, and they have two children. The couple divorced in 2021.
In 2022, Sondland published a book about his experiences as a diplomat called The Envoy: Mastering the Art of Diplomacy with Trump and the World.
