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 13 October 2026. Press Secretary Katie Zacharia delivered the announcement in her first briefing. President Donald Trump later confirmed the decision, saying he did not like what he had read and that he had not spoken with Guilfoyle directly.

The request followed a series of reports. The Wall Street Journal published text messages in which Guilfoyle asked a Trump donor, Eric Deters, to wire $100,000 to her American Express account in July 2025, before her Senate confirmation hearing. The messages indicated concern that outstanding credit-card debt would appear on her financial disclosure. Additional reporting described Guilfoyle promoting a Greek construction firm while working closely with its lobbyist and accepting gifts as ambassador.

Guilfoyle initially told associates the incriminating texts were AI-generated. She continued to seek support from administration officials and Trump allies in the days after the reports appeared. Early on Tuesday she was still telling people she expected to remain in post. During a morning preparation session for Zacharia's briefing, Trump instructed the press secretary to announce that Guilfoyle had been asked to resign. She submitted a formal resignation later the same day.

In a post on X, Guilfoyle said her time in the role may be ending and that she intended to defend her name and reputation. She had taken up the ambassadorship in September 2025 after her separation from Donald Trump Jr. The post had been viewed as a reward for loyalty during the campaign.

The episode is the first high-profile removal of a Trump-appointed ambassador in the second term over personal financial conduct rather than policy disagreement. Greek officials have not commented publicly on the vacancy. The State Department has not yet named a replacement or an acting ambassador.

For the White House, the decision removes a source of continuing media attention at a moment when the administration is focused on midterm elections and foreign-policy files in Ukraine and the Middle East. For Guilfoyle, the resignation ends a short diplomatic tenure that began with high visibility and ended with detailed reporting on pre-confirmation financial requests and on-the-job relationships with business interests.

Whether further investigations follow the resignation remains open. No criminal referral has been announced. The White House has limited its public statement to the request for resignation and a wish for Guilfoyle's well-being. The practical result is an immediate vacancy in Athens and a public record of the allegations that prompted the ouster.