White House asks US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign amid misconduct allegations

The White House has asked US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign. Press secretary Katie Zacharia announced the request at her first briefing on Tuesday. “We have asked ambassador Guilfoyle to resign,” Zacharia said. “She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well.”

The Wall Street Journal reported that in July 2025, days before her Senate confirmation hearing, Guilfoyle asked Trump donor Eric Deters to pay a $100,000 American Express bill, promising access to administration officials in return.

Trump had signaled Monday that he was considering removing her, telling reporters they were looking at it and were not happy. On Tuesday, he said she “was doing a good job, but we didn’t like what we were reading.” He also pushed back on the idea that Guilfoyle was close to his family. “No, she wasn’t a member of my family,” he said. “She, I guess, dated my son a long time ago, but she wasn’t.”

Guilfoyle denies allegations

Guilfoyle posted on social media that her time as Ambassador may be coming to an end. She called the allegations false and said she intended to vigorously defend her name, reputation, and integrity. “I will not allow false accusations to define my decades of public service,” she wrote. Her lawyers said the $100,000 was payment owed for previous speaking engagements and public appearances. Attorney Jesse Binnall disputed the authenticity of messages reported by the Wall Street Journal.

The donor and the messages

Deters told MS Now the request “absolutely was a quid pro quo.” He said he paid Guilfoyle about $300,000 over the years without receiving “one favor.” According to messages reported by the Wall Street Journal, whose authenticity Binnall disputes, Guilfoyle wrote to Deters, “What a nightmare you’ll literally cost me my ambassadorship stop writing.” She urged him to use Signal instead of writing. She also told Deters she had contacted the IRS commissioner and the Justice Department on his behalf regarding his tax and legal problems.

Greek business promotion and diplomatic concerns

The Wall Street Journal reported that Guilfoyle promoted the interests of the Greek construction company Aktor during official engagements. She allowed a lobbyist for the Greek company to attend private diplomatic meetings. The Journal also reported that she accepted improper gifts and services and made an alleged threat to a host-country official. She told guests at a reception that she could use US influence to undermine the Greek government. Binnall told the Journal that Guilfoyle has “worked with companies across the energy sector” and was not focused on one company. Secretary of State Marco Rubio grew furious over the allegations; he initially defended her as a “strong ambassador” but later declined to comment.

A short, contested tenure

Trump nominated Guilfoyle for the Athens post in December 2024, calling her “a close friend and ally.” The nomination stalled in the Senate until Republicans used the “nuclear option” in September 2025 to overcome a Democratic filibuster. She was sworn in as the first woman to represent the US in Greece, succeeding Biden appointee George Tsunis, and arrived in Athens in late October 2025. Guilfoyle, 57, is a former Fox News host and former San Francisco prosecutor who was previously married to California Governor Gavin Newsom until 2006. She was previously engaged to Donald Trump Jr.; they broke up in September 2024.