Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump’s ambassador to Greece, has resigned after facing allegations of improper and potentially illegal conduct before and during her time in Athens.
The Trump administration said it had asked Ms Guilfoyle to leave her post. White House press secretary Katie Zacharia said she had been “a wonderful asset to the team” and wished her well.
Ms Guilfoyle rejected the allegations, writing on X that they were false and that she would “vigorously defend” her name, reputation and integrity.
“I have dedicated my professional life to fighting for justice, standing up for what is right, and defending the values that make America exceptional,” she said. “I will not allow false accusations to define my decades of public service.”
The departure followed a series of reports alleging questionable behaviour, including a threat directed at a Greek official, the acceptance of improper gifts and services, and an offer to use her influence within the Republican administration in exchange for help paying a large credit-card bill.
Her lawyers, David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall, denied any wrongdoing. They said money Ms Guilfoyle had sought from a Trump donor related to unpaid public appearances and speaking engagements that took place before she was nominated as ambassador.
They also rejected claims concerning her use of private aircraft, saying she had sought and obtained State Department guidance before each trip and complied with the department’s travel regulations.
The allegations had raised pressure on the ambassador in recent weeks. Trump said on Monday that his administration was considering the matter and added: “We’re not happy.”
Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, initially described Ms Guilfoyle as “a strong ambassador here”. He later declined to comment on the reports, saying he did not know whether they were true and would not respond to claims he could not confirm.
“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,” Mr Rubio told journalists in Athens last week.
A US official said the State Department’s inspector general was looking into the allegations, although it was unclear whether a formal investigation had begun. Inspector-general inquiries into complaints against staff can remain informal and do not necessarily lead to disciplinary action.
Greek opposition parties had called for Ms Guilfoyle to be summoned by the Foreign Ministry to answer the allegations. Giorgos Gerapetritis, Greece’s foreign minister, said she had been treated in the same way as other ambassadors and that an official summons was not necessary.
Ms Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and California prosecutor, was previously married to Gavin Newsom, California’s Democratic governor, and was engaged to Donald Trump Jr.
