White House asks US ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign

The White House asked US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign on Tuesday, 13 October 2026.

New press secretary Katie Zacharia stated at her first briefing that the administration had requested Guilfoyle's resignation. Zacharia described Guilfoyle as a wonderful asset to the team and wished her well. President Donald Trump had indicated the previous day that he was considering the move, telling reporters that the administration was not happy.

Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and once engaged to Donald Trump Jr., has faced a series of reports about her conduct. The Wall Street Journal published accounts alleging that she solicited $100,000 from a Trump donor to cover a credit-card bill before her Senate confirmation hearing. Other reports described luxury trips linked to Greek business figures and the involvement of a lobbyist for a Greek construction firm in official meetings.

The State Department's Office of Inspector General has examined the allegations, according to people familiar with the matter. Lawmakers previously raised concerns about possible use of US influence. Guilfoyle's representatives have denied wrongdoing.

Guilfoyle took up the Athens post in September 2025. Greece remains a NATO ally that hosts US military facilities and leads an EU mission protecting shipping in the Red Sea. The timing of the resignation request coincides with continued regional tensions that affect Eastern Mediterranean security cooperation.

Zacharia provided no timeline for Guilfoyle's departure or the name of a successor. Sources familiar with the situation said Guilfoyle had expressed reluctance but faced limited options after the public White House statement. No names of potential replacements circulated in the administration on Tuesday.

The request marks a rare public break with a high-profile Trump appointee. Guilfoyle had served as a campaign surrogate and maintained close ties within the president's circle. Her former fiancé Donald Trump Jr. has had limited recent contact with her, according to reporting.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats noted after the announcement that resignation does not end accountability questions. They called for congressional oversight of the circumstances surrounding the allegations.

The State Department and Guilfoyle's office did not immediately comment on Tuesday. The embassy in Athens also had no immediate response. The sequence from Trump's Monday remarks to the formal request on Tuesday shows a compressed decision process once the reports accumulated.

Greece's strategic position means the ambassador post carries operational weight for US presence in the region. Continuity in the role will depend on how quickly a replacement is nominated and confirmed. The allegations themselves center on financial solicitations and external business contacts rather than policy disagreements.

Further details may emerge from the Inspector General review or from any congressional inquiry. For now, the public record consists of the White House request, Trump's earlier comments, and the published accounts that prompted scrutiny.