Kimberly Guilfoyle leaves post as US ambassador to Greece after White House requests resignation

Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned on Tuesday as the United States ambassador to Greece after the Trump administration asked her to step down, following a series of allegations of improper conduct, according to the Associated Press, as published by PBS NewsHour. Guilfoyle denies wrongdoing.

The request was made public by new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia during her first media briefing, which the BBC described as unusually short at 14 minutes. Zacharia gave few details but offered praise for Guilfoyle, the BBC and AP reported.

President Donald Trump said Guilfoyle had performed well in Greece but would no longer serve there. "I didn't like what I read," he said, according to the BBC. Trump also said he had not spoken with her before she was asked to resign.

The allegations originated in a series of Wall Street Journal reports beginning in late September. According to the AP, the Journal reported that Guilfoyle told reception guests the US could undermine the Greek government, promoted the interests of a Greek construction and energy company, and let its lobbyist sit in on private diplomatic meetings.

The Journal also reported, citing text messages, that Guilfoyle asked Trump donor Eric Deters to cover a credit card bill shortly before her Senate confirmation hearing, in exchange for access to administration officials. The AP put the bill at $100,000. The BBC said it had seen the messages. Guilfoyle's lawyers questioned the messages' authenticity and said the money was owed for speeches and consulting work done before she became ambassador. Deters told the BBC he never paid, called that explanation false, and said he plans legal action against her.

Other reports cited by the outlets described boasts about private jet travel funded by Greek business figures and, according to a Daily Mail report noted by the AP, friction with embassy staff. Her lawyers said she followed State Department guidance on all private flights.

In a post on X, Guilfoyle called the claims false and said she would "vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity," both outlets reported.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who visited Athens last week, initially defended Guilfoyle but later declined to address the claims, the AP reported. A US official told the AP the State Department's inspector general was examining the allegations, though it was unclear whether a formal probe had begun.

In Greece, opposition parties had urged the Foreign Ministry to summon Guilfoyle, while Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said that was unnecessary, according to the AP. Senior Democrats in Congress have called for an investigation.

Guilfoyle, 57, is a former Fox News host and California prosecutor who was previously married to Gavin Newsom and later engaged to Donald Trump Jr. She was nominated in December 2024, the BBC reported.

Compiled by True News from reporting by BBC News and PBS NewsHour. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/101