By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The White House confirmed Tuesday that U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle has been asked to resign following mounting allegations of financial misconduct, questionable diplomatic activities and attempts to use her connections to President Donald Trump’s administration for personal benefit. The decision comes one day after Trump publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the allegations against his longtime political ally.
New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia announced the decision during her inaugural briefing Tuesday, October 13, ending days of speculation about whether Guilfoyle would retain her diplomatic appointment.
“We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign,” Zacharia said, according to Reuters’ account of the White House announcement. “She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well.”
The administration did not immediately announce a replacement or clarify when Guilfoyle would formally leave her position. The White House also did not explain whether its request was prompted by a particular allegation or the cumulative concerns raised in recent reports.
Guilfoyle’s removal follows a series of investigations by The Wall Street Journal into allegations that she solicited money from a political donor, accepted improper benefits and engaged in conduct that raised questions about her judgment as the United States’ chief diplomatic representative in Greece.
Among the most serious allegations is that Guilfoyle sought $100,000 from a supporter of Trump to cover a personal American Express credit card bill before her Senate confirmation hearing. According to reporting based on text messages and accounts from individuals familiar with the matter, she allegedly offered to help the donor obtain access to senior administration officials in exchange for the payment.
The alleged arrangement has attracted particular scrutiny because offering access to government officials in exchange for personal financial assistance could raise federal ethics and potentially legal concerns, depending on the circumstances and evidence.
A CBS News examination of the allegations identified the disputed $100,000 request as a central issue in the administration’s review of Guilfoyle’s conduct.
Guilfoyle’s attorneys have denied that she sought an improper payment or attempted to sell access to administration officials. In a statement issued Sunday, attorneys David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall maintained that the disputed money represented compensation owed for legitimate professional services performed before she was nominated as ambassador.
According to the attorneys, Guilfoyle had undertaken public appearances and speaking engagements for which she had not been paid. They characterized the request for money as an effort to collect outstanding compensation rather than obtain personal financial benefits through her government position.
The conflicting accounts remain unresolved, and the allegations have not been established through a criminal conviction or publicly disclosed judicial findings.
The controversy intensified Monday when Trump acknowledged that his administration was considering dismissing Guilfoyle.
“Well, we’re looking at it,” Trump told reporters outside the White House before departing for a political event in Ohio. “We’re not happy.”
His comments marked a departure from the administration’s earlier public posture toward Guilfoyle, who has maintained longstanding personal and political connections to the president and his family.
The Associated Press reported Sunday that a senior U.S. official described Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as “extremely pissed off” over the allegations. The official indicated that a decision regarding Guilfoyle’s future could come within days.
That decision arrived Tuesday, with the White House confirming that the administration had requested her resignation rather than continuing to defend her diplomatic appointment.
The allegations extend beyond the disputed credit card payment. Earlier Wall Street Journal reporting described concerns about Guilfoyle’s interactions with Greek officials and business interests while serving in Athens.
One report alleged that Guilfoyle told guests at a reception that the United States could undermine the Greek government if it chose to do so. The reported remarks raised questions about whether she had threatened to use American diplomatic influence against the government of a NATO ally.
Other allegations involved her relationship with a Greek construction and energy company. Guilfoyle reportedly promoted the company’s commercial interests and permitted one of its lobbyists to participate in private diplomatic meetings.
Such conduct, if substantiated, could raise questions about whether official diplomatic activities were improperly used to advance private business interests.
The allegations have attracted attention because Greece occupies a strategically important position in American foreign policy. As a NATO member, the country provides military facilities and logistical support for U.S. operations in the Eastern Mediterranean and surrounding regions.
American officials also work closely with Greece on energy development, defense cooperation, maritime security and regional diplomacy. Maintaining confidence between Washington and Athens is therefore an important responsibility of the U.S. ambassador.
Questions about Guilfoyle’s relationships with private companies have become especially sensitive because energy infrastructure and commercial investment represent significant components of the bilateral relationship.
Additional reporting alleged that Guilfoyle accepted lavish gifts and services and traveled aboard private aircraft under circumstances that raised questions about compliance with State Department ethics regulations.
Her attorneys rejected suggestions that the private flights violated government rules.
Before each trip, Guilfoyle “sought, obtained and followed State Department guidance and followed the Department’s travel regulations,” Schwartz and Binnall said in their statement.
The attorneys maintained that her conduct complied with applicable requirements and disputed the portrayal of her travel arrangements as improper.
Federal ethics regulations impose restrictions on gifts, outside financial relationships and the acceptance of benefits by government employees. Diplomatic personnel are also subject to rules governing official travel, interactions with private businesses and potential conflicts of interest.
Whether a particular activity violates those requirements depends on the circumstances, including the value of any benefit, the identity of the person providing it, applicable exemptions and whether the conduct was approved by government ethics officials.
The broader investigation has also attracted congressional scrutiny.
Senior Democrats on congressional committees responsible for foreign affairs and government oversight have called for an examination of the allegations.
Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, have sought greater accountability concerning Guilfoyle’s reported conduct.
Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has also called for an investigation.
The concerns have prompted examination by the State Department’s Office of Inspector General, according to The Washington Post’s reporting on the administration’s response.
The inspector general’s office is responsible for investigating allegations of misconduct, waste, fraud and abuse involving State Department operations and personnel. Such investigations can examine official records, financial transactions, communications and compliance with government ethics requirements.
The State Department has not publicly detailed the scope of the reported investigation or announced findings establishing wrongdoing.
Rubio initially defended Guilfoyle following the first reports about her conduct but subsequently declined to comment on the growing allegations. His decision to withhold further public remarks came as additional reporting raised questions about the ambassador’s financial dealings and diplomatic relationships.
The controversy also included reports concerning Guilfoyle’s behavior at international events and her relationships with embassy personnel.
The Wall Street Journal reported that she became angry after not receiving an invitation to a Greek-themed gathering at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The account alleged that she demanded access to the event and referenced luxury travel to France involving energy company executives.
Separately, the Daily Mail reported that Guilfoyle had alienated members of the U.S. Embassy staff in Athens and engaged in behavior some employees considered inappropriate for an ambassador.
Those accounts have not resulted in publicly established findings of misconduct, and Guilfoyle has not personally provided a detailed response addressing each allegation.
Her attorneys have continued to maintain that the accusations involving payments and travel are misleading or unfounded.
Guilfoyle, a former California prosecutor and Fox News personality, became a prominent figure in Republican politics through her work as a television commentator and her involvement in Trump’s political campaigns.
She also maintained close personal ties to the president’s family, having previously been engaged to Donald Trump Jr. Before that relationship, she was married to Gavin Newsom, now the Democratic governor of California.
Trump selected Guilfoyle for the ambassadorship following his return to the White House, assigning her to one of America’s important diplomatic posts in southeastern Europe.
Her appointment attracted attention because of her public profile, political loyalty and personal connections to the president.
Guilfoyle represented the United States during diplomatic events involving Greek government officials, American business interests and senior members of the Trump administration.
As recently as October 7, she participated in a ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Athens during Rubio’s visit to Greece. The secretary of state’s trip focused on relations with European allies and broader American strategic interests in the region.
The diplomatic engagement occurred while allegations surrounding Guilfoyle were gaining public attention, creating an increasingly difficult situation for the administration.
The decision to request her resignation brings an abrupt change to American representation in Athens at a time when Washington is maintaining close security and economic cooperation with Greece.
The United States and Greece share strategic interests involving NATO operations, regional energy infrastructure and maritime security in the Mediterranean. Greece also participates in European efforts to protect commercial shipping from threats in the Red Sea.
A change in ambassador does not automatically alter those policies, but it requires the State Department to arrange interim leadership and eventually secure a replacement for the position.
The White House has not announced whether Guilfoyle has formally submitted a resignation letter or identified a candidate to succeed her.
The Associated Press reported Tuesday that the allegations had become serious enough to prompt bipartisan attention to the conduct expected of American diplomats.
The circumstances also underscore the distinction between an ambassador’s continued service at the president’s discretion and potential legal responsibility for alleged misconduct.
Ambassadors serve under presidential authority, and the administration can request their resignation without waiting for the completion of a criminal or administrative investigation.
Removing a diplomat from office does not independently establish that the person violated the law. Any legal findings would depend on evidence gathered by investigators and the applicable standards governing the conduct under review.
For Guilfoyle, the administration’s decision follows allegations that have damaged her standing within the White House despite her longstanding relationship with Trump.
For the State Department, the immediate challenge is maintaining continuity in Athens while questions remain about the ambassador’s activities and compliance with federal rules.
The White House’s announcement represents the clearest action taken against Guilfoyle since the allegations first surfaced in late September.
Whether the reported inspector general investigation results in additional findings, disciplinary action or legal proceedings remains uncertain.
As of Tuesday, the administration has confirmed that Guilfoyle has been asked to leave her post, while her lawyers continue denying wrongdoing. The resignation request marks a significant reversal for a longtime Trump ally whose diplomatic appointment has become the subject of intense scrutiny over financial dealings, official influence and the ethical responsibilities of representing the United States abroad.
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