Kimberly Guilfoyle Resigns as U.S. Ambassador to Greece Amid Mounting Allegations of Misconduct
WASHINGTON--President Donald Trump’s ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, resigned Tuesday after the administration asked her to leave her post amid mounting allegations of improper conduct, including claims that she sought financial favors from a political donor in exchange for access to senior administration officials. Guilfoyle has denied wrongdoing, vowing to “vigorously defend” her name and reputation.
The resignation followed days of growing scrutiny over Guilfoyle’s conduct before and during her tenure in Athens, with reports raising questions about her diplomatic judgment, travel arrangements, relationships with business interests and interactions with potential donors. The allegations have drawn criticism from lawmakers and prompted calls for an investigation, adding pressure on an administration already facing questions about the conduct of its political appointees.
The Trump administration confirmed Tuesday that it had asked Guilfoyle to depart her diplomatic post. The announcement came during the first media briefing held by newly appointed White House press secretary Katie Zacharia, who was asked about reports that the ambassador’s position had become increasingly precarious.
“Has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well,” Zacharia said of Guilfoyle, offering no further details about the circumstances surrounding her departure.
The decision followed public comments from Trump a day earlier indicating that he was unhappy with the reports concerning his ambassador. Asked at the White House whether he was considering firing Guilfoyle, Trump acknowledged that her future was under review.
“Well, we’re looking at it,” Trump told reporters. “We’re not happy.”
The remarks came one day after The Associated Press, citing a senior U.S. official, reported that Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were “extremely pissed off” by the allegations and were expected to make a decision about Guilfoyle’s future during the week.
Guilfoyle directly addressed the accusations in a social media post, rejecting the allegations and pledging to defend herself.
“These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity,” she wrote.
“I have dedicated my professional life to fighting for justice, standing up for what is right, and defending the values that make America exceptional,” she added. “I will not allow false accusations to define my decades of public service.”
Allegations raise questions about conduct and financial dealings
The controversy intensified following a series of reports published by The Wall Street Journal beginning in late September. The newspaper detailed multiple allegations concerning Guilfoyle’s behavior, including claims that she threatened a Greek official, accepted inappropriate gifts and services, and offered to leverage her connections within the Trump administration in exchange for financial assistance.
In a statement released late Sunday, Guilfoyle’s attorneys, David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall, denied that she had engaged in misconduct. They said money she sought from a Trump donor was intended to compensate her for previously arranged public appearances and speaking engagements that took place before her nomination as ambassador.
The attorneys also rejected allegations of impropriety involving Guilfoyle’s use of private aircraft. They said she sought and received guidance from the State Department before each trip and complied with the department’s travel regulations.
One of the most consequential allegations involves a reported request for a Trump donor to pay a $100,000 credit card bill shortly before Guilfoyle’s Senate confirmation hearing. According to The Wall Street Journal, which cited text messages, Guilfoyle allegedly offered the donor access to administration officials in return for the payment.
The report raised questions about whether her personal financial arrangements and political relationships crossed ethical boundaries for a senior U.S. diplomat. Guilfoyle’s attorneys have disputed the allegations of wrongdoing, maintaining that the money was connected to legitimate professional services rather than an improper exchange for political access.
Other reports have focused on Guilfoyle’s interactions with Greek officials and business representatives. The Journal’s initial account alleged that she told guests at a reception that the United States could undermine the Greek government if it chose to do so. The newspaper also reported that she promoted the business interests of a particular Greek construction and energy company and allowed a lobbyist associated with the company to participate in private diplomatic meetings.
The Journal subsequently reported that Guilfoyle was angered after she was not invited to a Greek-themed event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this year. According to the report, she demanded to attend and discussed luxury travel to France with energy company executives.
Separately, the British tabloid The Daily Mail reported that Guilfoyle had alienated staff members at the U.S. Embassy in Athens and had pushed the limits of conduct considered appropriate for the highest-ranking American diplomatic representative in Greece.
The allegations have not all been independently established, and Guilfoyle has denied wrongdoing.
State Department scrutiny and Rubio’s response
The growing controversy has also placed Rubio under scrutiny as the administration’s chief diplomat faces questions about the conduct of one of his most prominent ambassadors.
Initially, Rubio defended Guilfoyle, describing her favorably during remarks last week.
“Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here,” he said.
His tone shifted after additional reporting emerged. Speaking to reporters in Athens on Thursday before departing Greece, Rubio criticized journalists for pressing him about the allegations, saying he could not verify their accuracy and would not comment on claims he could not confirm.
“You guys walk around thinking that because some source told you something and you reported it, it’s the gospel. It’s not the gospel. It’s not the gospel for me. That’s not the way we do things,” Rubio said at the foot of his aircraft.
Guilfoyle, who had been present to see Rubio off, looked on as he addressed the reporters.
A second U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters, said the State Department’s inspector general was examining the allegations. The official could not confirm whether a formal investigation had been opened.
Inspectors general routinely conduct preliminary inquiries into complaints involving government employees. Such reviews do not necessarily lead to a full investigation or disciplinary action, although formal investigations can result in consequences ranging from other administrative measures to dismissal.
The State Department has declined to comment on whether a formal inspector general investigation is underway.
The allegations have also prompted calls for congressional scrutiny. Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the leading Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; and Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, have called for an investigation into Guilfoyle’s conduct.
Political pressure grows in Greece
The controversy has also generated criticism in Greece, where opposition lawmakers called on the country’s Foreign Ministry to summon Guilfoyle to address the allegations.
During parliamentary debate Friday, Sia Anagnostopoulou, a former deputy foreign minister, said the controversy raised concerns beyond the conduct of an individual diplomat.
“This, most importantly, is an issue of national dignity,” she said.
Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis responded that Guilfoyle had been treated in the same manner as other ambassadors and argued that a formal summons was unnecessary.
There was no immediate response from the Greek government or Cabinet members following Zacharia’s announcement Tuesday.
The resignation announcement came after Guilfoyle had continued to maintain a public presence on social media. Hours before the administration’s decision was announced, she posted photographs of a meeting with the Spanish ambassador to Athens and shared birthday wishes for Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law. The birthday post featured “Dance the Night,” a song by Dua Lipa from the 2023 film “Barbie.”
The posts offered no indication that her tenure was about to end.
A high-profile political figure turned diplomat
Guilfoyle’s appointment to represent the United States in Greece marked another chapter in a career that has intersected with law, television and Republican politics.
A former California prosecutor, she later became a prominent television personality and host at Fox News Channel. She was previously married to Gavin Newsom when he was mayor of San Francisco, years before he became California’s governor.
Guilfoyle subsequently became engaged to Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, and emerged as a prominent figure in Trump-aligned political circles.
Her resignation now places renewed attention on the administration’s vetting and oversight of political appointees, particularly those serving in sensitive diplomatic positions overseas.
While Guilfoyle has forcefully denied the allegations and her attorneys maintain that her financial dealings and travel arrangements were proper, the reports have raised questions about whether her conduct met the ethical expectations of a U.S. ambassador.
The circumstances surrounding her departure also leave unresolved questions about the scope of any State Department review, whether further investigative steps will follow and whether the allegations could prompt additional scrutiny from Congress.
For now, Guilfoyle is leaving her diplomatic post under a cloud of controversy while insisting that she will fight to clear her name.