US President Donald Trump has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign as US ambassador to Greece, White House press secretary Katie Zacharia confirmed on Tuesday (13 October).

“We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign. She has been a wonderful asset to the team and we wish her well,” Zacharia said.

Watch the video of her statement:

BREAKING: White House: We have asked Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign. We wish her well. https://t.co/YtAYOS5lac

— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 13, 2026

The Wall Street Journal previously reported in a series of articles that Guilfoyle had allegedly solicited or accepted money or other benefits from private individuals in exchange for offering to use her influence and connections with US administration officials to advance their interests.

Guilfoyle responds on X: ‘I’m proud of what we achieved in Greece”

The US Ambassador has expressed her gratitude to US President Donald Trump in a lengthy social media post, describing her appointment to Athens as “the greatest honour of my life” and rejecting recent allegations against her as false.

See her post on X here:

Serving as the United States Ambassador to Greece has been the honor of a lifetime. I will forever be grateful to President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for entrusting me with the extraordinary privilege of representing the greatest country in the history of the world. From my first day as Ambassador, I have worked tirelessly to advance President Trump’s America First agenda, strengthen our strategic alliance with Greece, and deliver meaningful victories for the American people. During my tenure, we have helped secure historic agreements to expand American liquefied natural gas exports to Europe, advanced the Vertical Corridor to reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian energy, strengthened our defense and security partnership with a critical NATO ally, and expanded opportunities for American businesses and investment throughout the region. I am especially proud of the role our Embassy has played in strengthening American energy dominance, advancing economic cooperation, and ensuring that the United States remains the indispensable leader in Southeast Europe. These accomplishments are a testament to President Trump’s bold leadership, Secretary Rubio’s commitment to American diplomacy, and the extraordinary men and women who serve our country every day. I also want to address the recent allegations against me. These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my 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. I will not allow false accusations to define my decades of public service. My gratitude and respect for President Trump and Secretary Rubio remain unwavering. I am proud of what we accomplished together, and I will always be a loyal supporter of President Trump and his mission to Make America Great Again. While my time as Ambassador may be coming to an end, my commitment to President Trump, the America First movement, and the country I love will never end. It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve the United States of America. My deepest heartfelt appreciation to the people of Greece for their hospitality, partnership, and welcoming me with open arms. God bless President Trump, God bless our incredible diplomats and service members, and God bless the United States of America.

— Kimberly Guilfoyle (@kimguilfoyle) October 13, 2026

Dismissal was first indicated by Trump yesterday

US President Donald Trump had signalled as early as Monday (12 October) that Kimberly Guilfoyle could be removed from her post as US ambassador to Greece, following a series of Wall Street Journal reports alleging misconduct both before and after she took up her diplomatic duties.

Asked by a reporter at the White House 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 review. “Well, we’re looking at it,” he said, adding: “Yes, we’re not happy.”

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

— Acyn (@Acyn) October 12, 2026

Allegations involving $100,000 and access to US officials

The Wall Street Journal reported in a series of articles that Guilfoyle had allegedly solicited or accepted money or other benefits from private individuals in exchange for offering to use her influence and connections with US administration officials to advance their interests.

Among the allegations was a claim that she had asked Trump donor Eric Deters to pay $100,000 towards an American Express credit card debt while allegedly offering him access to US government officials. Other reports raised questions about a lobbyist attending private diplomatic meetings and actions allegedly intended to benefit 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’

Responding to the allegations, Guilfoyle’s lawyers, Jesse Binnall and David M. Schwartz, argue that Deters is attempting to portray a financial dispute over services provided before her nomination to the diplomatic post as a case of misconduct.

They say Deters still owes Guilfoyle approximately $150,000 and that legal action is being considered to recover the money, potentially alongside additional claims. According to her legal representatives, the outstanding payments relate exclusively to speaking engagements and consultancy services she provided during 2024 and early 2025.

They reject any suggestion of a quid pro quo arrangement, insisting that Guilfoyle was simply seeking payment for work she had already completed. They say she was attempting to settle outstanding financial matters as she prepared to move from the private sector into public service.

The $200,000 contract and unpaid fees

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

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

Her lawyers say additional speaking engagements, strategic communications work and fundraising consultancy services were also agreed. They cite a third party who was present when the consultancy arrangement was made and who, they say, has confirmed its terms under oath.

Guilfoyle’s legal team maintains that Deters missed the original payment deadline and subsequently made instalment payments over several months without settling the full amount owed. They also cite written messages in which Deters allegedly blamed delays on his business partner and lawyers, describing himself as a “millionaire with a liquidity problem”.

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

Eric Deters says he will sue Amb. Kimberly Guilfoyle and her attorneys for defamation. He alleges to have text messages in which Guilfoyle requested he pay off her personal American Express card before she was confirmed as the ambassador to Greece. https://t.co/QCFJNEXNDy

— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) October 13, 2026

The $1 million offer

Guilfoyle’s lawyers also address a proposed payment of $1 million, which they say came from Deters himself.

According to their account, the former political candidate offered the sum in return for Guilfoyle helping to publicise and draw attention to a private medical malpractice lawsuit he was pursuing, as well as bringing the case to the attention of US government officials. Her legal team insists that she rejected the offer.

The lawyers also cite an alleged admission by Deters that he had paid more for Guilfoyle’s speaking engagements than he considered justified because he wanted to cultivate relationships with people close to Trump.

These claims form part of Guilfoyle’s defence. Although her lawyers refer to contracts, written messages and sworn confirmation from a third party, the statement does not include the supporting documents.

What her lawyers say about private jet flights

Guilfoyle’s legal team also disputes reports concerning her use of private aircraft, describing the allegations as misleading.

They maintain that, before undertaking any such flights, the ambassador sought and received guidance from the US State Department and followed that advice in accordance with its regulations.

According to her lawyers, Guilfoyle has fully complied with federal ethics, gift acceptance and disclosure requirements, something they say the US embassy has already confirmed. Their statement, however, provides no details of specific flights, amounts paid or how the associated expenses were covered.

References to Greece-US relations

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

They said the ambassador would continue carrying out her duties “with integrity, honour and distinguished service”, while leaving open the possibility of further legal action in her dispute with Deters.

Trump’s public remarks, however, added a new dimension to the controversy, marking the first time the US president himself had confirmed that Guilfoyle’s removal from her post in Athens was under consideration.

The Wall Street Journal reports at the centre of the controversy

In a series of reports, the Wall Street Journal raised questions about Guilfoyle’s alleged use of her political connections and diplomatic position to advance private interests.

In the case involving Deters, the newspaper reported that she had sought $100,000 from him to settle an American Express bill while he was seeking her assistance in approaching government officials over tax and legal matters. Citing messages, the newspaper alleged that Guilfoyle wanted the payment arranged without leaving an obvious paper trail and sought to avoid written references to their financial dealings. According to the report, the payment was never made.

Another report concerned private jet flights and luxury accommodation allegedly paid for by Greek businessmen. Guilfoyle has rejected the allegations, maintaining that she was seeking outstanding professional fees and that her travel arrangements complied with State Department guidance.

Following the reports, the Associated Press reported that Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio were considering removing Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece.

A senior US official, speaking anonymously to the AP, said Trump and Rubio were “extremely angry” about the revelations concerning Guilfoyle and could decide on their next steps within the week.

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

In an earlier report, the Wall Street Journal also alleged that Guilfoyle had made remarks at a dinner attended by Greek and American 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,” she allegedly said.

Greek Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou, who was also at the dinner, reportedly responded that the United States could not replace Greece’s democratically elected government.

However, addressing the Greek parliament, Papastavrou denied that the exchange had taken place, stating that “there was never any question of pressure or threats against our country to take any action, nor would anything of the sort ever be tolerated”.

Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis and New Democracy party secretary Kostas Kyranakis, who also attended the dinner, issued similar denials.