UPDATE 18:32
Kimberly Guilfoyle has published a post reflecting on her time as US ambassador to Greece.
Serving as the United States Ambassador to Greece has been the honor of a lifetime. I will forever be grateful to President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for entrusting me with the extraordinary privilege of representing the greatest country in the history of the world. From my first day as Ambassador, I have worked tirelessly to advance President Trump’s America First agenda, strengthen our strategic alliance with Greece, and deliver meaningful victories for the American people. During my tenure, we have helped secure historic agreements to expand American liquefied natural gas exports to Europe, advanced the Vertical Corridor to reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian energy, strengthened our defense and security partnership with a critical NATO ally, and expanded opportunities for American businesses and investment throughout the region. I am especially proud of the role our Embassy has played in strengthening American energy dominance, advancing economic cooperation, and ensuring that the United States remains the indispensable leader in Southeast Europe. These accomplishments are a testament to President Trump’s bold leadership, Secretary Rubio’s commitment to American diplomacy, and the extraordinary men and women who serve our country every day. I also want to address the recent allegations against me. These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity. I have dedicated my professional life to fighting for justice, standing up for what is right, and defending the values that make America exceptional. I will not allow false accusations to define my decades of public service. My gratitude and respect for President Trump and Secretary Rubio remain unwavering. I am proud of what we accomplished together, and I will always be a loyal supporter of President Trump and his mission to Make America Great Again. While my time as Ambassador may be coming to an end, my commitment to President Trump, the America First movement, and the country I love will never end. It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve the United States of America. My deepest heartfelt appreciation to the people of Greece for their hospitality, partnership, and welcoming me with open arms. God bless President Trump, God bless our incredible diplomats and service members, and God bless the United States of America.
— Kimberly Guilfoyle (@kimguilfoyle) October 13, 2026
The White House has formally requested the resignation of its envoy in Athens, following a series of media reports about her conduct before and after taking up the post. The announcement was made on Tuesday by new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia during her first press briefing, CNN reports. Kimberly Guilfoyle, who has been close to the Trump family, has served as US ambassador to Greece since September 2025.
The White House announcement
“We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign,” Ms Zacharia told reporters. She added that Ms Guilfoyle had been “a wonderful asset to the team” and that the administration wished her luck.
According to CNN, representatives for Ms Guilfoyle did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.
On Monday, President Donald Trump had confirmed he was considering removing her. “We’re looking at it - yeah. We’re not happy,” he told reporters as he left the White House.
The allegations
The request follows reports that Ms Guilfoyle allegedly:
Sought money in exchange for providing access to administration figures before her confirmation, accepted lavish gifts while serving as ambassador, and brought a lobbyist for a Greek construction company into official meetings.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the alleged “pay for play” scheme. The newspaper had earlier reported on her alleged promotion of a Greek energy firm for regional energy deals.
Former donor’s account
Eric Deters, a former Trump donor, has said that in the days before her Senate confirmation, Ms Guilfoyle asked him by text message to wire her $100,000 to pay off an American Express card. According to Mr Deters, she said she would be his “ride or die” in the Trump administration if he did so.
Speaking to CNN’s Jake Tapper last week, Mr Deters described it as a quid pro quo. He said he did not send the money because he lacked the liquid assets at the time.
Response from Guilfoyle’s lawyers
Lawyers for Ms Guilfoyle have denied the allegations about seeking money and said reports about her travel were misleading. They stated that she complied with federal gift and reporting requirements.
In a statement provided to CNN, they said Mr Deters owed Ms Guilfoyle money for speeches and consulting work, and described his statements as false. “Asking a client to pay for work already done is not corruption. It is the opposite of corruption,” the lawyers wrote.
Rubio’s visit to Athens
Secretary of State Marco Rubio was travelling to Greece when the Wall Street Journal first published its report. Ms Guilfoyle attended several events with him, and he declined to comment on the reports at the time.
During the visit, Mr Rubio described her as a “strong ambassador” and dismissed questions about the allegations, telling reporters that anonymously sourced reports are not “the gospel”. He made the remarks before boarding his plane, with Ms Guilfoyle present.
Calls for congressional oversight
The reports prompted Democrats on Capitol Hill to call for investigations. Representative Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called for Ms Guilfoyle to appear before the committee, saying it must be determined whether she had solicited funds from any other source.
Following Tuesday’s announcement, Democrats on the committee said on X that resigning “does not shield her from accountability”, and called on Congress to conduct oversight.
Inspector General investigation
According to a source familiar with the matter cited by CNN, the State Department’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is investigating Ms Guilfoyle in connection with the allegations. A spokesperson for the State OIG said that, as a matter of policy, the office does not confirm, deny or comment on investigative matters.
It remains unclear how the investigation will proceed following her departure. A source familiar with the workings of inspector general offices told CNN this may depend on whether the Department of Justice opens its own investigation. If it does not, the OIG may continue its work, although its findings could take around a year to complete.
Ms Guilfoyle, a prominent figure in the MAGA movement, was engaged for four years to Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son. She was nominated as ambassador to Greece after their separation.
This is a developing story.
With information from CNN
