John Rufus Gifford (born August 5, 1974) is an American politician and diplomat who was finance chair of the Harris 2024 presidential campaign since July 2024.

[1] He graduated from St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, in 1992 and he earned his Bachelor of Arts from Brown University in Rhode Island.

During his time there, he became the associate producer for Daddy Day Care, Life or Something Like It, and Dr. Dolittle 2, and he appeared as an actor in the films Garfield: The Movie and The Hiding Place.

[2] In his capacity as the ambassador, he helped modernize the transatlantic relationship through youth engagement and institution-building, among other bilateral and global issues.

[8] When it was renewed for a second season, Gifford made the announcement himself speaking Danish in a video posted on Facebook.

[10][11][12] As Ambassador, he traveled to Greenland for bilateral meetings on climate change, promoted counter-extremism initiatives and Danish–American trade, and worked to maintain Danish military support in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[17] His service in Denmark ended upon the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who allowed no US ambassadors to continue to serve under his administration.

"[22] On January 24, 2020, Gifford endorsed Joe Biden for president in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.

[28] In March he assessed the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic posed for fundraising: "I think Biden's campaign will end up being fine.

Those are so reliant on major donor fundraising and on events.... People are going to want to give to their local food bank and hospital and EMT staff—as they should.

[30] In January 2021, Axios reported that Biden would tap Gifford to be Chief of Protocol of the United States.

Gifford resigned as Chief of Protocol in July 2023 to assume a position on the Biden 2024 presidential campaign.

[39] He is a Federal Club Member of the Human Rights Campaign and a Partner in Conservation for the World Wildlife Fund.