USAupdated 1h ago2 min read
Donald Trump Fires Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle After White House Asks Her To Resign
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White House asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign amid misconduct investigations. Trump fired the U.S. ambassador to Greece following misconduct allegations.
Guilfoyle Ousted in Athens
President Donald Trump fired U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle after the White House asked her to resign, with press secretary Katie Zacharia saying, "We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign."
Trump told reporters, "She was doing a good job, but we didn't like what we were reading," as he explained why he removed Guilfoyle.
Kimberly Guilfoyle denied wrongdoing in a post on X, writing, "These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity."
The reports at the center of the dispute included claims that Guilfoyle sought money in exchange for access to Trump administration officials, and the White House said it acted after those concerns were raised in news reports.
Guilfoyle vowed to "vigorously defend my name" as scrutiny mounted after reports about her alleged request for a donor to pay a credit card bill for access.
Pay-for-Access Claims
Eric Deters told NBC News that Guilfoyle asked him to pay her $100,000 American Express bill in exchange for access, saying, "She was so desperate for that $100,000. It was a quid pro quo."
Guilfoyle’s lawyers, David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall, denied corruption and said, "Asking a client to pay for work already done is not corruption. It is the opposite of corruption," in a statement provided to CNN.
Trump also said he was considering firing Guilfoyle, telling reporters, "We’re looking at it — yeah. We’re not happy," as the controversy intensified.
CNN reported that the White House received Guilfoyle’s formal resignation later on Tuesday, after Zacharia’s announcement that she had been asked to step down.
The BBC account said Guilfoyle vowed to "vigorously defend my name" as scrutiny mounted after reports about her alleged request for a donor to pay a credit card bill for access.
State Department Probe
Guilfoyle, 57, was under investigation by the State Department’s inspector general’s office, citing two people familiar with the decision. The probe followed Wall Street Journal allegations, including that Guilfoyle bragged about connections to Greek tycoons who she said funded luxury trips. The Guardian said the decision ended a tenure that lasted less than a year, and it quoted Zacharia saying, "She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well."
Vice President JD Vance rejected the idea of selling access, telling reporters, "Of course, I don’t like anybody selling access to another government official." The BBC account said Guilfoyle’s ouster came after reports that she allegedly asked a Trump donor to pay a hefty credit card bill in exchange for access, while she denied the claims and said she would defend her name.