US ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle has resigned after the White House asked her to leave amid allegations of improper conduct. She said the claims were false and vowed to defend her name and reputation.
The administration disclosed the request during a briefing by new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia. She described Ms Guilfoyle as “a wonderful asset to the team” and said officials wished her well.
Ms Guilfoyle announced her resignation on X less than two hours later. President Donald Trump said he had not spoken to her but confirmed that “she will not be there”.
“She went to Greece. She was doing a good job, but we didn’t like what we were reading,” Mr Trump said.
Allegations against Kimberly Guilfoyle
The allegations, which have been reported since late last month, include claims that Ms Guilfoyle threatened a Greek official, accepted improper gifts and services, and offered to use her influence within the Republican administration in return for payment of a large credit card bill.
One report said she asked a Trump donor to pay a $100,000 bill shortly before her confirmation hearing, allegedly promising access to administration officials. Her lawyers said the money was payment for public appearances and speaking engagements arranged before her nomination as ambassador.
Her lawyers, David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall, denied that she had done anything wrong. They also rejected claims about her use of private aircraft, saying she had sought and followed State Department guidance and travel regulations before each trip.
In her resignation statement, Ms Guilfoyle said: “These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity.”
She added: “I have dedicated my professional life to fighting for justice, standing up for what is right, and defending the values that make America exceptional. I will not allow false accusations to define my decades of public service.”
The State Department’s inspector general was said to be examining the claims, although a US official could not confirm whether a formal investigation had begun. The department has declined to comment on a possible inquiry.
Political pressure in Greece
Secretary of State Marco Rubio initially defended Ms Guilfoyle, calling her “a strong ambassador”. But later, before leaving Athens, he criticised journalists who questioned him about the allegations.
“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,” Mr Rubio said.
Greek opposition parties had called on the Foreign Ministry to summon Ms Guilfoyle to answer the allegations. Sia Anagnostopoulou, a former deputy foreign minister, told parliament that the matter was “an issue of national dignity”. Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said she had been treated in the same way as other ambassadors and that a summons had not been necessary.
There was no immediate response from the Greek government or Cabinet members to the White House announcement.
Democrats in the US Congress have called for an investigation, including senior members of the House Foreign Affairs, Senate Foreign Relations and House Oversight committees.
Ms Guilfoyle’s role had focused in part on energy, an area of importance to Greece because of its position in south-eastern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean. Her associations with energy-sector executives were among the matters raised in reports about her conduct.
Ms Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and California prosecutor, was previously married to Gavin Newsom when he was mayor of San Francisco. She later became engaged to Mr Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr.
