The White House has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to step down as U.S. ambassador to Greece following a series of reports regarding her financial conduct and treatment of staff. White House press secretary Katie Zachariah announced the decision on Tuesday during her first public briefing, stating that the administration had requested Guilfoyle's resignation. Although the White House described Guilfoyle as a "wonderful asset," it remained unclear whether she had formally submitted her resignation when questioned for clarification.
This development followed President Donald Trump's remarks the previous day, in which he acknowledged that the administration was considering firing the ambassador. "We're looking at it," Trump told reporters on Monday. "We're not happy."
The pressure on Guilfoyle intensified after The Wall Street Journal reported that she asked Trump donor Eric Deters to pay a $100,000 American Express bill shortly before her Senate confirmation hearing in July 2025. Messages reviewed by the Journal indicated that Guilfoyle urged Deters to wire the funds directly to American Express to avoid a paper trail, while offering access to senior administration officials in return. Deters stated he never made the payment. Guilfoyle's attorney, Jesse Binnall, disputed the authenticity of the messages, arguing that Guilfoyle was owed a balance for travel and support related to speaking engagements prior to her nomination.
Earlier investigations by The Wall Street Journal also examined Guilfoyle's conduct in Greece. The publication reported that she promoted the interests of the Greek construction and energy company Aktor Group and allowed its registered lobbyist, Christos Marafatsos, to attend private diplomatic meetings. Additionally, the Journal reported that Guilfoyle suggested at a dinner with Greek officials that the U.S. would undermine their government, referencing political developments in Romania. Greece's foreign minister later stated there was no need to summon Guilfoyle for an explanation after the country's energy minister denied that any threat had been made.
Separately, the Daily Mail reported that the State Department's Office of Inspector General opened an investigation into allegations concerning Guilfoyle's treatment of embassy employees, private travel, gift acceptance, and business relationships. Sources described a hostile workplace where Guilfoyle allegedly threatened to fire employees and demoted security personnel over minor incidents, including a request for ice during a vacation in Mykonos. The inspector general's office declined to confirm or deny the existence of an investigation.
Congressional Democrats have called for a review of her conduct. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York urged scrutiny, with Meeks calling for her removal if the allegations were substantiated. Vice President JD Vance cautioned against rushing to judgment while acknowledging that misconduct should carry consequences. Secretary of State Marco Rubio initially defended Guilfoyle's performance but later challenged reporters' reliance on unnamed sources.
Trump nominated Guilfoyle, a former California prosecutor and longtime ally, to the post in December 2024. She was previously engaged to Donald Trump Jr. for four years before they split in December 2024. Trump Jr. married Bettina Anderson in May 2026.