Kimberly Guilfoyle, President Donald Trump’s ambassador to Greece, resigned Tuesday amid allegations of improper conduct, while declaring that she would “vigorously defend” herself.
The Trump administration said earlier in the day that it had asked Guilfoyle to step down after she faced mounting scrutiny over claims of improper and potentially unlawful behavior before and during her time in Athens.
The announcement followed several days of public speculation and came in response to a question posed to newly appointed White House press secretary Katie Zacharia during her first media briefing Tuesday morning. Zacharia described Guilfoyle as “a wonderful asset to the team” and said the administration wished her well.
Guilfoyle’s exit had been foreshadowed over the weekend in reporting by The Associated Press. Trump also voiced his displeasure Monday over reports concerning the ambassador’s alleged conduct.
Asked at the White House whether he was considering firing Guilfoyle, Trump replied, “Well, we’re looking at it,” adding, “We’re not happy.”
Trump’s remarks came a day after the AP, citing a senior U.S. official, reported that the president and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were “extremely pissed off” by the allegations and were expected to decide Guilfoyle’s fate during the week.
The Wall Street Journal has published a series of reports since late last month detailing alleged questionable conduct by Guilfoyle. The claims include threatening an official from the host country, accepting inappropriate gifts and services, and offering to use her influence within the Republican administration in exchange for payment of a substantial credit card bill.
Guilfoyle denies the accusations and cites her ‘decades of public service’
Guilfoyle rejected the accusations in a social media post, writing, “These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity.”
“I have dedicated my professional life to fighting for justice, standing up for what is right, and defending the values that make America exceptional,” she wrote. “I will not allow false accusations to define my decades of public service.”
In a statement issued late Sunday, Guilfoyle’s attorneys, David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall, denied any wrongdoing. They said money she sought from a Trump donor was compensation for unpaid public appearances and speaking engagements that took place before her nomination as ambassador.
The lawyers also disputed allegations involving Guilfoyle’s use of private aircraft. They said she had “sought, obtained and followed State Department guidance and followed the Department’s travel regulations” before each flight.
The allegations began surfacing weeks ago
Rubio initially defended Guilfoyle after the first report but later stopped addressing the allegations publicly. Last week, he said, “Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here.”
After another report emerged, however, Rubio sharply criticized journalists who questioned him about the claims. Speaking Thursday before departing Athens, he said he did not know whether the allegations were accurate and would not comment on matters he could not verify.
“You guys walk around thinking that because some source told you something and you reported it, it’s the gospel. It’s not the gospel. It’s not the gospel for me. That’s not the way we do things,” Rubio said near his plane as Guilfoyle watched him leave.
MUST READ: Mother’s Disturbing Posts Before Baby Boy Found Dead in Motel
A second U.S. official could not confirm whether a formal inspector general investigation had been opened. Inspectors general frequently begin with informal reviews of complaints involving staff members, and those inquiries do not always lead to a full investigation. Formal proceedings can result in disciplinary measures, including dismissal.
The State Department has declined to comment on whether its inspector general is examining the allegations.
The Greek government and Cabinet members did not immediately respond to Zacharia’s announcement.
Before Tuesday’s announcement, Greek opposition parties had urged the Foreign Ministry to summon Guilfoyle and demand an explanation. “This, most importantly, is an issue of national dignity,” Sia Anagnostopoulou, a former deputy foreign minister, told parliament Friday. Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said Guilfoyle had been treated “the same way as every other ambassador” and maintained that a formal summons was unnecessary.
Just hours before the announcement, Guilfoyle shared photos from a meeting with Spain’s ambassador to Athens and posted birthday wishes for Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law. The message was set to Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night,” featured on the soundtrack of the 2023 film “Barbie.”
Democrats call for an investigation
Senior Democrats in Congress have already called for an investigation. They include Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the top Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees, respectively, along with Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., the ranking member of the House Committee for Oversight and Government Reform.
Since late September, the Journal has detailed numerous accounts of questionable conduct by Guilfoyle. Its first report said that she had told guests at a reception that the United States could undermine the Greek government if it chose to, promoted the business interests of one particular Greek construction and energy company and allowed its lobbyist into private diplomatic meetings.
While Rubio was in Athens, the Journal reported — citing text messages — that Guilfoyle had asked a Trump donor and supporter to pay a $100,000 credit card bill just before her confirmation hearing, promising him access to administration officials if he did.
The Journal then reported that Guilfoyle had been enraged about not being invited to a Greek-themed event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this year and demanded to attend while boasting about luxury travel to France with energy company executives.
Another report, from the British tabloid The Daily Mail, said that Guilfoyle had alienated staff at the U.S. Embassy in Athens and had pushed the bounds of behavior appropriate for the top representative of the U.S. government to Greece.
Guilfoyle is a former Fox News Channel host and California prosecutor who was married to Democrat Gavin Newsom when he was San Francisco’s mayor, before he became California’s governor. She later was engaged to Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr.
___
AP journalist Derek Gatopoulos in Athens contributed.
Copyright © 2026 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.