Kimberly Guilfoyle announced her resignation as the U.S. ambassador to Greece on Tuesday after the White House formally requested her departure. The decision follows a wave of damaging reports suggesting that Guilfoyle attempted to trade political access for personal financial gain. Press secretary Katie Zacharia broke the news during a briefing, noting that while Guilfoyle had been an asset to the team, the administration felt it was time for her to step aside.
The controversy centers on leaked text messages involving businessman Eric Deters, who claimed that Guilfoyle asked him for 100,000 dollars to clear an American Express bill just before her Senate confirmation hearings last year. According to Deters, the request was essentially a pay to play scheme where he would provide the funds in exchange for introductions to high ranking officials such as the IRS commissioner and the attorney general. While Deters ultimately declined the arrangement, claiming he could not afford the sum at the time, sources close to the matter confirmed that the incriminating texts are authentic.
President Trump signaled his dissatisfaction early in the week, telling reporters on his way to Alaska that he did not like what he had read regarding his appointee. Despite initial hesitation to leave her post, Guilfoyle eventually confirmed her exit via a post on X, asserting that she would rigorously defend her reputation while maintaining her loyalty to the America First movement. She praised both Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for giving her the opportunity to represent the United States abroad.
Beyond the bribery allegations, additional reports have emerged detailing Guilfoyle boasting about Greek billionaires funding her luxury travels and expressing frustration over missing exclusive events at Davos. As she departs under a cloud of suspicion, those within the administration suggest she has few remaining allies left in Washington, including a distanced relationship with Donald Trump Jr. The White House has yet to announce a successor for the diplomatic role in Athens.
