In brief
President Donald Trump’s administration has requested that former Fox News anchor Kimberly Guilfoyle step down as U.S. ambassador to Greece, citing allegations of corruption and misconduct. Reports claim she asked a Trump donor to pay her credit‑card debt in exchange for access to the administration and that she behaved inappropriately while in Athens. Guilfoyle denied the accusations and vowed to defend her reputation, while her lawyers dispute the authenticity of the disputed text messages. President Trump said he was “not happy” with the claims and has praised the former missus in a brief press briefing. The development marks a rare public conflict between Trump’s appointed envoys and the administration’s diplomatic agenda.
President Trump has directed the resignation of former Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle from her post as U.S. ambassador to Greece, after a flurry of allegations of corruption and improper conduct.
According to the White House, the claims include that Guilfoyle asked a Trump donor to pay the debt on her American Express card in exchange for access to officials in the administration, and that she behaved inappropriately during her tenure in Athens. The messages reportedly surfaced from a revealed text thread that John Wells of the Wall Street Journal said was authentic.
White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia announced the move in her first and unusually brief briefing, saying that the ambassador “has been asked to resign.” Trump commented on social media, saying: “I didn’t like what I read.”
Guilfoyle, 57, who was nominated in December 2024, has stated she would vigorously defend her reputation and insist the accusations are false. Her lawyers have disputed the authenticity of the texts, claiming she was simply chasing unpaid consulting and speaking fees for work she performed before her appointment.
An audio clip obtained by the Wall Street Journal allegedly shows Guilfoyle boasting that the United States could topple the Greek government and describing her high‑level connections with Greek business leaders. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who travelled to Greece with her, expressed his discomfort with the situation.
Eric Deters, a longtime Trump ally who allegedly had a financial claim on Guilfoyle, said the allegations were a “complete lie” and announced he would take legal action. He said he “did not ultimately pay” her and that the request for money was false.
Guilfoyle’s appointment followed a brief relationship with the son of former California Governor Gavin Newsom, which had ended in 2024. Trump noted that she “dated my son a long time ago” but was not a family member.
In the 14‑minute briefing, Zacharia read a list of policy achievements and answered basic questions about the situation in Greece, Ukraine, and non‑traditional media coverage. She praised the administration’s agenda and highlighted the desire to “amplify, multiply and expand upon President Trump’s incredible agenda.”
