Ambassador to the European Union by President Trump, Sondland's name was removed from the Provenance Hotels' website, as required by U.S. ethics rules, and replaced with that of his wife, who was then listed as the chairman.

"[29] In April 2017, it was revealed that Sondland's $1 million donation to the Donald Trump Presidential Inaugural Committee was made public through the campaign contribution disclosure process.

[30][31][32][33] In 2024, Sondland announced in an appearance on MSNBC that he viewed the Biden-Harris administration as more of a threat to democracy than the January 6 events, and was endorsing Trump's candidacy in the 2024 election.

[34] In March 2018, President Trump selected Sondland to be the next United States ambassador to the European Union, a position which had been vacant since January 2016.

[40][41] In pursuit of this end, Sondland promoted the idea of giving European governments access to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to allow them to better screen investors.

"[44][46][47] Sondland was a vocal opponent of the construction of Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would transport gas across the Baltic Sea to the EU.

The EU should not rely on a bare-chested version of the Harry Potter villain Lord Voldemort as a supplier, even if his gas is a bit cheaper.

[51] The Washington Post wrote that Sondland gained a reputation for "being indiscreet" and that officials "chastised [him] for using his personal phone for state business."

A former White House official commented, “He always seemed to be in D.C. People would say, ‘Does he spend any time in Brussels?’ ” The Post wrote, "Sondland’s approach to the job was seen more as a source of irritation than trouble until May [2019], when he moved to stake his claim to the U.S.-Ukraine relationship.

"[54] In the complaint released by the Committee Sondland's involvement in President Donald Trump's activity was also outlined in text conversations with the interim chargé d'affaires for Ukraine Bill Taylor.

In an email exchange on July 21 Taylor wrote: Gordon, one thing Kurt and I talked about yesterday was Sasha Danyliuk's point that President Zelenskyy is sensitive about Ukraine being taken seriously, not merely as an instrument in Washington domestic, reelection politics."

"[54] On September 9 Taylor wrote: "As I said on the phone, I think it's crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign," and after a five-hour pause Sondland replied: "Bill, I believe you are incorrect about President Trump's intentions.

"[55]In his testimony before the committee, Sondland said that after the email exchange in which Taylor had expressed concerns about withholding the security assistance he called Trump asking for clarity on exactly what he wanted.

[70] Appearing in a closed-door inquiry on November 15, in a written opening statement Holmes said he heard Trump ask, "So, he's gonna do the investigation?"

[72] On November 16, the House impeachment investigators released the closed-door testimony of former National Security Council official Tim Morrison.

He said that the leadership of the State Department and the National Security Council, including Mike Pompeo and John Bolton, were fully informed of their activities and Giuliani's, adding "Everyone was in the loop.

[77] The quid pro quo in question was relating to the public commitment by Zelensky to investigate Burisma and the 2016 election as a prerequisite to receive a White House invitation or phone call.

"[81] During the Impeachment trial of Donald Trump which began on January 16, 2020, and ended on February 5, The Washington Post wrote that Sondland's House testimony played a "central role" in the trial, reporting that House testimony was used both for and against a case for Trump's alleged attempt to use a quid pro quo to persuade Zelensky to deliver dirt on Biden in exchange for congressional funding for Ukraine.

"[82] Actor Will Ferrell portrayed Sondland alongside Alec Baldwin’s Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live’s cold open.

[4] Several news outlets reported that a group of Republican senators, including Susan Collins, Thom Tillis, Ron Johnson, and Martha McSally, believed that the president was wrong to recall Sondland.

"[88] In May 2021, Sondland sued Pompeo and the government for $1.8 million, asserting the State Department reneged on its promise to pay his legal fees.

[93] The 2012 HillelFest Fundraising event at the University of Washington honored Sondland's sister and brother-in-law Lucy and Herb Pruzan for their five decades of leadership and dedication to Hillel.

As part of this celebration, Sondland and his wife, Katy Durant, gave an endowment gift which created the Pruzan Fellow in honor of Herb and Lucy.

The intent is for the Pruzan Fellow to become a key leader, role model and driving force behind the undergraduate student programming at Hillel UW.

[97] In March 2023, Sondland participated as presenting underwriter for the traveling Auschwitz Exhibition at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Foundation.

"[100] On September 3, 1994, Sondland married Katherine Durant,[11][101] the founder and managing partner of Atlas/RTG, a holding company with a portfolio of shopping centers throughout Oregon.

[102] Until 2016, Durant was the Chairperson of the Oregon Investment Council, the body that oversees the over $85 billion Public Employees Retirement System Fund.

He accused Portland Monthly and ProPublica of trying to “affect Ambassador Sondland’s credibility as a fact witness in the pending impeachment inquiry” and also suggested the news organizations were guilty of “veiled witness tampering.” [107] Sondland and Durant divorced in 2021; the General Judgment of Dissolution was entered in Multnomah County, case number 21DR16982 and signed by Judge Francis G. Troy, II on November 15, 2021.

[101] Their estate in southwest Portland, formerly owned by Durant and quitclaimed deeded on October 15, 2021[108] to an LLC controlled by Sondland,[109] sold for $4.33 million in July 2022.