White House asks Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign as ambassador to Greece

Kimberly Guilfoyle has been instructed by the White House to resign as U.S. ambassador to Greece following reports of inappropriate conduct and possible violations during her tenure.

The decision was made public Tuesday by the new White House spokeswoman, Katie Zacharia, at her first press briefing.

“We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign,” Zacharia said. She described Guilfoyle as a valuable member of the team and wished her success in the future. Representatives for the ambassador did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Guilfoyle, who was engaged for four years to Donald Trump Jr., the U.S. president’s eldest son, was sworn in as ambassador in September 2025.

She has faced allegations that she sought payments in exchange for access to U.S. administration officials before the Senate confirmed her appointment. Other allegations concern her acceptance of luxury gifts during her tenure and the involvement of a lobbyist for a Greek construction company in official meetings.

One of the main allegations was made by Eric Deters, a former Donald Trump donor. He said Guilfoyle had sent him a message asking for $100,000 to pay off an American Express credit card just days before her Senate confirmation.

Deters claims Guilfoyle promised him unconditional support within the Trump administration if he transferred the money.

“There is no doubt this was a quid pro quo,” Deters told CNN journalist Jake Tapper last week.

He added that he had not sent the requested amount because he did not have the necessary funds at the time.

Guilfoyle’s lawyers rejected those claims in a statement to CNN. They said Deters owed their client payments for speeches and consulting services and accused him of making false claims.

“As Ms. Guilfoyle was preparing to leave the private sector to serve the public, she did what any professional would do: she tried to collect outstanding payments. Asking a client to pay for work performed is not corruption,” the lawyers said.

Her legal team also disputed reports about her travel, calling them misleading. According to her lawyers, Guilfoyle complied with federal rules on accepting and disclosing gifts.

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said the administration was considering removing her from her diplomatic post.

“We’re looking at it. Yes, we’re not happy,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House.

Initial reports about the alleged money-for-favors scheme were published by The Wall Street Journal while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Greece.

During his stay in Athens, Rubio attended several events with Guilfoyle and described her as a “strong ambassador.” He criticized questions about the allegations and said media reports could not automatically be accepted as true.

“You think that just because a source told you something and you reported it, that is the absolute truth. It is not the absolute truth,” Rubio said before leaving Greece, with Guilfoyle standing beside him.

The matter has prompted a response from Democrats in the U.S. Congress, who have called for investigations.

Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called for Guilfoyle to testify before the committee and explain the allegations.

Meeks said it must be established whether the ambassador had also sought funds from other sources.

Meanwhile, a source familiar with the matter said the U.S. State Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) is investigating the allegations of inappropriate conduct by Guilfoyle.

For now, the allegations remain under investigation, while Guilfoyle, through her lawyers, has denied any wrongdoing.