Trump fires Guilfoyle amid misconduct allegations

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s administration has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign as ambassador to Greece following media reports alleging misconduct and inappropriate efforts to use her political connections for personal benefit.

The White House confirmed the decision on Tuesday, days after reports raised questions about Guilfoyle’s conduct during her diplomatic assignment. Trump said he had been considering removing her and explained that the administration was concerned about what had been reported.

White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia described Guilfoyle as a valuable member of the team and wished her well. The allegations have also drawn scrutiny from US lawmakers, while reports have suggested that the State Department’s internal watchdog is examining complaints from staff at the US embassy in Athens.

Guilfoyle denied wrongdoing and said her support for Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio remained firm. In a statement posted on social media, she called the allegations false and pledged to defend her reputation and integrity.

Several reports raised questions about her relationships with influential business figures in Greece. One report described her close ties with a lobbyist connected to a Greek energy company and alleged that she promoted the firm. Another cited audio recordings in which she reportedly discussed her connections with wealthy Greek businessmen while seeking an invitation to a dinner in Davos honouring Eric Trump, the president’s son.

US businessman Eric Deters also alleged that Guilfoyle had offered access to administration officials in exchange for money. He claimed she had asked him to pay a $100,000 credit card bill. These claims have not been independently established, and Guilfoyle has denied wrongdoing.

The Greek government has not publicly commented on the allegations. The US State Department and the American embassy in Athens did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Guilfoyle’s tenure as ambassador attracted considerable attention from the beginning. She appeared in Vogue Greece and attended high-profile social events while promoting US commercial and strategic interests.

During her time in Athens, she backed efforts to expand American liquefied natural gas exports and supported energy initiatives involving US companies, including ExxonMobil.

However, some of her public statements also created diplomatic tensions. In her first interview with Greek media after arriving in November 2025, she called for China to sell its 67% stake in the port of Piraeus, a major component of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. China’s ambassador to Greece criticised the remarks, accusing Washington of pursuing a hegemonic approach.

Greece remains an important NATO ally of the United States, providing military facilities in the eastern Mediterranean and participating in efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea. During a visit to Athens last week, Rubio announced plans for increased counterterrorism information-sharing between the two countries’ law enforcement agencies.

The controversy has raised questions about the conduct of US diplomatic representatives and the potential impact on relations with Greece. Dimitris Mantzos, foreign affairs spokesperson for Greece’s opposition PASOK party, said the developments raised serious questions about whether Greek officials would seek an explanation from Washington.