Kimberly Guilfoyle Resigns as U.S. Ambassador to Greece After White House Requests Her Departure
The White House asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign as U.S. Ambassador to Greece on Tuesday, and she announced her resignation within two hours. Her departure followed reporting by The Wall Street Journal on allegations of improper conduct, including threatening a host country official, accepting improper gifts, and soliciting payment of a $100,000 credit card bill from a Trump donor in exchange for access to administration officials. Guilfoyle denied all allegations in a post on X and stated she would "vigorously defend" her name and reputation.
Two sources · Thin corroboration
The White House publicly requested Guilfoyle's resignation on Tuesday morning, with new press secretary Katie Zacharia confirming the request at her first media briefing, saying Guilfoyle "has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well." President Trump, speaking shortly after Guilfoyle posted her resignation on X, said he had not spoken to her directly but noted, "She went to Greece. She was doing a good job, but we didn't like what we were reading."
The allegations against Guilfoyle were first reported by The Wall Street Journal beginning in late September. According to NPR, the Journal detailed a series of incidents including an alleged threat to a Greek government official suggesting the United States could undermine the Greek government, promotion of a specific Greek construction and energy company's business interests, and allowing that company's lobbyist into private diplomatic meetings. A separate Journal report, citing text messages, said Guilfoyle had asked a Trump donor to pay a $100,000 credit card bill just before her Senate confirmation hearing, promising access to administration officials in return. The British tabloid The Daily Mail separately reported that Guilfoyle had alienated staff at the U.S. Embassy in Athens.
Guilfoyle's lawyers, David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall, issued a statement late Sunday rejecting the allegations. They said the credit card payment she sought was for prior public appearances and speaking engagements that predated her ambassadorial nomination and had not yet been paid. They also denied any impropriety related to travel on private planes, stating Guilfoyle had "sought, obtained and followed State Department guidance" before each such trip.