Kimberly Guilfoyle asked to resign as ambassador to Greece over misconduct

The White House has asked U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign over allegations of improper conduct, including a reported $100,000 credit card bill she allegedly requested from a Trump donor in exchange for political access. The demand, confirmed by new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia, is a notable development in a scandal that has drawn scrutiny from members of Congress and the State Department’s inspector general. Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and ex-wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom, has denied wrongdoing through her lawyers, but the allegations—spanning financial dealings, workplace behavior, and diplomatic overreach—have forced the Trump administration to address the controversy.

The resignation request follows weeks of reports detailing Guilfoyle’s alleged misconduct, including a report that she allegedly asked Trump donor Eric Deters to pay her $100,000 American Express bill in exchange for access to administration officials. Text messages cited by The Wall Street Journal show Guilfoyle urging Deters to get this done for me today. Her lawyers, David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall, have denied the allegations, claiming the money was payment for pre-nomination speaking engagements and consulting work. However, the administration has moved to replace her, with President Trump stating, “We’re not happy” about the reports.

The Resignation Request and Allegations

The White House’s request for Guilfoyle’s resignation came after a series of reports from The Wall Street Journal, The Daily Mail, and other outlets. The allegations include claims that she accepted improper gifts, promoted the interests of the Greek energy company Aktor Group, and allowed its lobbyist into private diplomatic meetings. A Journal investigation also alleged that she suggested at a dinner that the U.S. could undermine the Greek government. Greek officials later indicated there was no need to summon Guilfoyle for an explanation after the country’s energy minister denied that any threat had been made.

Guilfoyle’s legal team has pushed back against the allegations, emphasizing that she sought, obtained and followed State Department guidance on travel and that the $100,000 bill was for services rendered before her ambassadorship. Meanwhile, the State Department’s inspector general is reportedly looking into the allegations, though officials have not confirmed whether a formal probe has begun. A U.S. official noted that inspectors general often conduct informal inquiries into complaints, which do not always result in a full-on investigation.

The scandal has also involved Secretary of State Marco Rubio. While Rubio initially defended Guilfoyle’s performance, he later declined to address the allegations directly, challenging reporters over their reliance on unnamed sources and declaring, It’s not the gospel. Congressional Democrats, including Rep. Gregory Meeks and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, have called for a review of her conduct. Vice President JD Vance addressed the controversy, stating, Let’s actually see what the facts are. Let’s see what the truth is.

Political Fallout and Legal Responses

The resignation request has highlighted scrutiny of Trump’s diplomatic appointments. Guilfoyle was nominated to the post in December 2024. She was engaged to Donald Trump Jr. for four years before the couple split in December 2024. Her legal team has framed the allegations as unsupported, with Binnall stating, Any implication of wrongdoing by the Ambassador is unsupported. However, reports have detailed claims of a hostile workplace, including allegations that she threatened to fire employees and demoted members of her security detail.

The White House’s handling of the crisis has been led by Zacharia, who in her first briefing stated, We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign. She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well. The administration has not provided further details regarding the timing of an official resignation.

Unanswered Questions and Investigations

Despite the White House’s request for resignation, many details remain unclear. The State Department has not confirmed whether the inspector general’s office has launched a formal investigation. The situation leaves the State Department in a position where it must manage both the personnel change and the ongoing review of the allegations.

Guilfoyle’s personal response has been limited to statements from her legal counsel. While her lawyers have issued statements denying wrongdoing, she has not addressed the reports directly. The administration has focused on the transition, with Zacharia’s briefing emphasizing the administration's well-wishes for the outgoing ambassador.

As the administration moves forward, the case of Kimberly Guilfoyle remains a subject of investigation regarding her tenure in Athens.