A U.S. State Department foreign service officer has been dismissed after appearing in a hidden-camera recording in which he described a secret romantic relationship with the daughter of a Chinese Communist Party–connected official—an association he allegedly failed to disclose to federal security personnel. The State Department announced the decision Wednesday, emphasizing that the officer’s undisclosed personal ties posed a serious vulnerability under national security guidelines.

The officer, identified as Daniel Choi, reportedly lost his position following a rapid internal review initiated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and ultimately approved by President Donald Trump. According to a department official, the dismissal was carried out under newly strengthened executive authority related to foreign-policy accountability.

The controversy began when O’Keefe Media Group (OMG) released undercover footage showing Choi openly discussing his relationship with a Chinese national whose father, he claimed, held a role within the Communist Party’s educational hierarchy. In the recording, Choi remarked that his girlfriend “could have been a spy” and admitted he had deliberately avoided notifying State Department security officials about their relationship—even though such disclosures are a standard requirement for anyone with security clearance.

“I defied my government for love,” Choi said in the hidden-camera video, describing his choice to conceal the relationship despite federal policy mandating that foreign contacts—particularly those linked to foreign governments—be reported immediately.

A State Department spokesperson said this case appears to be the first termination carried out under Executive Order 14211, signed earlier in the year by President Trump. The order clarifies that diplomats and foreign service officers must implement executive foreign-policy directives faithfully and that failure to do so can result in disciplinary action, including removal.

In a public statement, the Department explained its decision to dismiss Choi:
“The officer admitted to concealing a long-term relationship with a Chinese national whose family held ties to the Chinese Communist Party. On recorded video, he acknowledged that the individual ‘could have been a spy.’ Foreign service personnel are required to report any close contacts with foreign nationals who may be connected to a hostile government. By intentionally withholding this information, the officer failed to uphold the obligations of his position and the responsibilities outlined by the President’s foreign-policy directives.”

Counterintelligence officials have repeatedly warned that China’s intelligence services frequently utilize personal, romantic, or social relationships to gather sensitive information from U.S. government employees. This strategy—often referred to informally as “honey-trap recruitment”—remains one of the most persistent concerns of national security agencies.

A retired senior U.S. intelligence official familiar with diplomatic security procedures explained the risk succinctly:
“Romantic involvement is one of the most common pathways foreign intelligence services try to exploit. Even if the relationship seems harmless, failing to report it creates a major vulnerability. It gives a foreign government potential leverage over the employee.”

The State Department declined to disclose specifics about the internal review but confirmed that Choi’s failure to report the relationship violated long-established protocols designed to prevent coercion or compromise. Diplomatic personnel—particularly those with access to classified information—are required to report “close and continuing contact” with foreign nationals, especially if those contacts come from countries considered strategic competitors.

In the video released by OMG, Choi claimed that his girlfriend’s father served either as a provincial or national education minister within China’s political structure. He also admitted he had not investigated her background thoroughly, saying, “She could have been a spy—I don’t even know.”

Following the release of the footage, Secretary Rubio swiftly recommended Choi’s dismissal, citing the need to protect the department’s integrity.
“This represents a clear security lapse,” a State Department official said privately. “Our officers swear an oath to protect the United States and to abide by security standards. No one is exempt from that responsibility.”

Since becoming Secretary of State, Rubio has pushed for heightened scrutiny of foreign influence within government institutions. His tenure has included expanded background checks for diplomats assigned to East Asia, stricter vetting of foreign contacts, and closer monitoring of personnel whose work involves sensitive geopolitical issues.

The political world has taken note of Rubio’s assertive national-security stance. Rumors circulating around Washington suggest he is being discussed as a potential contender for the 2028 Republican presidential ticket alongside Vice President JD Vance—a pairing that would reflect a hard-line approach to U.S.–China relations.

As the Choi case continues to attract public attention, it underscores the growing concern across federal agencies about the influence of foreign governments on personal relationships and the risks these connections can create inside the U.S. diplomatic corps.