Kimberly Guilfoyle’s tenure as U.S. ambassador to Greece ended on Tuesday, October 13, with a post on X and a White House briefing that said she had been asked to go.
“Serving as the United States Ambassador to Greece has been the honor of a lifetime,” she wrote, before turning to the accusations. “These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity.” Her post came shortly after new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia told reporters, at her first briefing, “We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign.” Zacharia called her a wonderful asset to the team. A White House official later confirmed the formal resignation had arrived.
The allegations
The Wall Street Journal reported that Guilfoyle, ahead of her 2025 Senate confirmation hearing, asked Trump-allied donor Eric Deters to wire $100,000 to pay down her American Express account, promising him access to senior administration officials. Deters told NBC News: “She was so desperate for that $100,000. It was a quid pro quo.” He said she told him no request was too big. A text message he supplied appeared to show her telling him to pay American Express directly because “it won’t show up anywhere.” He said he never paid.
Her lawyers, David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall, said the money was owed for earlier speaking engagements and public appearances, an account Deters disputes. They also rejected any impropriety over her travel, saying she followed State Department guidance and travel rules.
The Journal reported more. It said she told guests at a reception that the U.S. could use its influence to undermine the Greek government, promoted the interests of a Greek construction and energy company, and let one of its lobbyists sit in on private diplomatic meetings. Another report, which NBC said it could not independently confirm, alleged she bragged of ties to Greek tycoons who she said funded luxury trips.
Washington’s shifting tone
The State Department’s inspector general had already opened an investigation, two people familiar with the decision told NBC News the week before. Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said she would wait to see what that probe produced.
The president’s tone hardened over several days. Asked on Friday, Trump said it was “too bad” and that she was always very nice. By Monday: “We’re looking at it. We’re not happy.” On Tuesday he said: “She went to Greece. She was doing a good job, but we didn’t like what we were reading.”
Vice President JD Vance had earlier said “these are accusations” and cautioned against trying people in public opinion. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, standing with her in Athens, rebuked a reporter who asked about the claims. A source told NBC that Guilfoyle was still phoning allies on Monday trying to keep her job, and that senior White House aides worried about what the inspector general might yet uncover.
Guilfoyle, 57, a former Fox News host and California prosecutor, was confirmed by the Senate in September 2025 by 51 votes to 47 and became the first woman to serve as U.S. ambassador to Greece.
Sources
- Kimberly Guilfoyle – Wikipedia
- Kimberly Guilfoyle, U.S. ambassador to Greece, resigns amid misconduct allegations
- US ambassador to Greece Kimberley Guilfoyle resigns amid misconduct claims
- Kimberly Guilfoyle
