US President Donald Trump has left open the possibility of removing Kimberly Guilfoyle from her post as US ambassador to Greece, publicly expressing his dissatisfaction with the former fiancée of his son, Donald Trump Jr.

The US president made the remarks at the White House on Monday (12 October), following a series of reports in The Wall Street Journal alleging irregularities before and after she took up her diplomatic duties.

Trump says they are considering firing Kimberly Guilfoyle: We are not happy. https://t.co/2rg5gUT1O8

— Acyn (@Acyn) October 12, 2026

Trump says he is considering removing Guilfoyle

Asked by a reporter whether he was considering removing Guilfoyle from the US embassy in Athens, Trump stopped short of giving a definitive answer but confirmed that the matter was under consideration.

“Well, we’re looking into it,” he said, adding: “Yeah, we’re not happy.”

The US president’s comments follow a series of critical reports by The Wall Street Journal, which have raised questions about Guilfoyle’s conduct both before her appointment and during her tenure in Greece.

Allegations over $100,000 and access to officials

According to The Wall Street Journal, Guilfoyle allegedly used her political connections to secure financial assistance and advance private interests.

Among the allegations is a claim that she asked Trump donor Eric Deters to pay $100,000 towards an outstanding American Express credit card bill, allegedly offering him access to US government officials in return.

Other reports have referred to a lobbyist being present at private diplomatic meetings, as well as actions allegedly intended to serve private business interests.

The allegations have not been proven, and Guilfoyle’s lawyers deny that the ambassador engaged in any illegal or improper conduct.

Guilfoyle’s response: “Deters owes me $150,000”

In response to the allegations, the US ambassador’s lawyers, Jesse Binnall and David M. Schwartz, argue that Eric Deters is attempting to portray a financial dispute as a case of misconduct. They say the dispute concerns services provided before Guilfoyle was nominated for the diplomatic post.

According to the lawyers, Deters still owes Guilfoyle approximately $150,000, and legal action is being considered to recover the sum, along with any potential additional claims.

Her legal representatives say the outstanding payments relate exclusively to speaking engagements and consultancy services she provided during 2024 and early 2025.

They also reject the characterisation of the transactions as “quid pro quo” — the provision of something in exchange for a favour — arguing that Guilfoyle was simply seeking payment for work she had already completed. They explain that she attempted to settle outstanding financial claims as she prepared to move from the private sector into public service.

The $200,000 contract and unpaid fees

In their statement, the ambassador’s lawyers say Deters hired Guilfoyle as a keynote speaker at “Freedom Fest” events in Kentucky. According to her legal team, the former political candidate used the events to boost his public profile ahead of his campaigns for governor and Congress.

On 20 May 2024, he signed a contract with the agency responsible for arranging Guilfoyle’s appearances and collecting her fees. The agreement stipulated a flat fee of $200,000, payable by 31 May of that year.

According to her lawyers, additional speaking engagements, strategic communications services and fundraising assistance were also agreed. In support of the consultancy agreement, they cite a third party who, they say, was present and has confirmed the relevant terms under oath.

Guilfoyle’s legal team maintains that Deters failed to meet the original payment deadline and subsequently made instalment payments over several months without settling the full amount owed.

They also cite text messages in which Deters allegedly blamed his business partner and lawyers for the delays, describing himself as a “millionaire with a cash-flow problem”.

According to the statement, the outstanding balance for all the services in question amounts to approximately $150,000.

The $1 million offer

The lawyers also draw particular attention to an offer of $1 million which, according to Guilfoyle’s legal team, Deters himself made.

They allege that the former political candidate offered to pay the sum in exchange for Guilfoyle’s help in publicising and promoting his private medical malpractice lawsuit, as well as bringing it to the attention of US government officials.

The ambassador’s legal team insists that the offer was rejected.

Her lawyers also cite a statement by Deters that he had paid more than he believed was justified for her speaking engagements because he wanted to cultivate relationships with Donald Trump’s circle.

These claims form part of Guilfoyle’s defence. The statement refers to contracts, text messages and sworn confirmation from a third party, but does not include the documents themselves.

What her lawyers say about private jet flights

Guilfoyle’s lawyers also address reports about her use of private aircraft, describing them as misleading.

They say that, before any such travel, the ambassador sought and received guidance from the US Department of State and followed it, complying with the rules of the US foreign affairs department.

According to her lawyers, she has fully complied with federal regulations on ethics, the acceptance of gifts and disclosure requirements. They add that the US embassy has already confirmed this.

However, their statement does not provide details of specific flights, sums of money or how the corresponding expenses were covered.

References to Greek-US relations

Concluding their statement, Guilfoyle’s legal representatives refer to the energy priorities of her tenure and efforts to strengthen strategic co-operation between Greece and the United States.

They stress that the ambassador will continue to carry out her duties “with integrity, honour and distinguished service”, while leaving open the possibility of further legal action in the dispute with Eric Deters.

Trump’s public statement, however, adds a new dimension to the case, as the US president has now confirmed for the first time that Guilfoyle’s removal from her post in Athens is being considered.

The contentious Wall Street Journal reports

In a series of reports, The Wall Street Journal raised questions about the possible use of Kimberly Guilfoyle’s political connections and diplomatic position to serve private interests. In the case involving Eric Deters, the newspaper reported that she had asked him for $100,000 to settle an American Express bill, while he was seeking her help in approaching government officials over tax and legal matters.

Citing messages, the newspaper alleged that she had asked for the payment to be made without leaving an obvious paper trail and that written references to their financial arrangement should be avoided. According to the report, the payment was never made.

Another report concerned private jet flights and luxury accommodation allegedly paid for by Greek businesspeople, according to the newspaper. Guilfoyle rejects the allegations, maintaining that she was seeking unpaid professional fees and that her travel complied with guidance from the US Department of State.

Following these reports, the Associated Press (AP) reported that Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio were considering removing Guilfoyle from her position as US ambassador to Greece.

A senior US official cited by the AP said on Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity, that Trump and Rubio were “extremely angry” about the revelations concerning Guilfoyle and might decide on their next steps within the week.

The official said Rubio was particularly troubled by the situation. His frustration was reportedly compounded by the fact that he had visited Athens only the previous week. Guilfoyle greeted him with a warm embrace on arrival and accompanied him at most, if not all, of his public engagements, even as the allegations against her were already in the spotlight.

When previously asked about the Wall Street Journal reports concerning the US ambassador in Athens, Trump had offered only a brief comment: “I just heard about it. Too bad. I mean, I don’t know, she’s an ambassador. I just heard a little bit about the subject. I don’t know much, but she’s always been very nice.”

Q: Do you know about the reports about Kimberly Guilfoyle, your ambassador to Greece? TRUMP: I just heard about it. It’s too bad. I mean, I don’t know. She’s an ambassador. I just heard a little bit about it. I don’t know too much, but she always very nice. https://t.co/B1BZN0D6nw

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 9, 2026

Earlier, in another report, the Wall Street Journal alleged that Guilfoyle had made the following remark at a dinner attended by Greek and US officials last spring, referring to the government of Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan: “We can do this in any country we want. We can do it here, too.”

Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou was also at the table. According to the newspaper’s report, he allegedly replied that the US could not replace Greece’s democratically elected government.

However, responding in parliament, Papastavrou denied that the exchange had taken place, saying: “There was never any question of our country being pressured or threatened to take any action, nor would anything of the sort ever be tolerated.”

Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis and New Democracy party secretary Kostas Kyranakis, who was also present at the dinner, issued similar denials.