White House Asks Kimberly Guilfoyle to Resign as Ambassador to Greece

The White House asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign as U.S. ambassador to Greece on Tuesday. New press secretary Katie Zacharia confirmed the request during her first briefing, stating that Guilfoyle had been a wonderful asset and that the administration wished her well. President Donald Trump told reporters she had been doing a good job but that the administration did not like what it was reading.

The most detailed allegation, first reported by The Wall Street Journal on 8 October, centres on Republican donor Eric Deters. The paper cited Signal messages in which Guilfoyle, days before her Senate confirmation hearing in July 2025, pressed Deters to pay a $100,000 American Express bill and assured him the transfer would not appear on records. Guilfoyle’s lawyers have disputed the authenticity of the messages and said the sum related to unpaid speaking fees. Deters has denied that account.

Additional reports described Guilfoyle’s promotion of a Greek energy company whose lobbyist she knew, and audio recordings in which she discussed ties to wealthy Greek businessmen while seeking an invitation to a Davos event. The State Department’s internal watchdog was examining staff complaints about conduct at the Athens embassy, according to the Daily Mail. Guilfoyle, a former prosecutor and onetime fiancée of Donald Trump Jr., posted on social media that the allegations are false and that she intends to defend her name and integrity. She described the ambassadorship as the honour of a lifetime and reaffirmed her support for the president.

The resignation ends her tenure after roughly a year in Athens. Lawmakers had raised concerns about the Journal’s reporting in the days before the White House decision. No criminal charges have been filed. Guilfoyle’s departure leaves the Athens post vacant pending a successor.

Zacharia’s briefing marked her first appearance at the lectern as press secretary. The administration has not named an interim ambassador or announced a timeline for a replacement. Guilfoyle’s statement emphasised that her commitment to the America First movement remains unchanged.