There is a particular kind of ending that arrives not with a door slamming, but with a quiet statement posted to social media and a White House spokesperson wishing the departing well. Kimberly Guilfoyle’s tenure as U.S. ambassador to Greece lasted just over a year, ending Tuesday after a cascade of reports alleging improper conduct—allegations she denies and vows to fight “vigorously” . The resignation came one day after President Trump told reporters he was “not happy” with the situation, and an hour after the White House publicly confirmed it had asked her to step down .
The allegations, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, span a range of conduct. According to the Journal, Guilfoyle asked a Trump donor to pay a $100,000 American Express bill shortly before her Senate confirmation hearing, promising access to administration officials in return . The Journal also reported that she told guests at a reception the United States could undermine the Greek government if it chose to, promoted the business interests of a Greek construction and energy company, and allowed its lobbyist into private diplomatic meetings . Her lawyers have denied wrongdoing, saying the money she sought was payment for speaking engagements that predated her nomination, and that she followed State Department travel regulations .
Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and former fiancée of Donald Trump Jr., was narrowly confirmed by the Senate in a vote that hewed close to party lines, with Democrats questioning her qualifications and describing the appointment as patronage . She had faced scrutiny from the moment she took the post, but the Journal’s reporting in late September and October accelerated the pressure. On Monday, Trump said he was “looking at” firing her; on Tuesday, he told reporters she “wasn’t a member of my family” and that she “dated my son a long time ago” .
The State Department’s inspector general was reportedly looking into the allegations, and Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs committees had initiated their own probes . In Greece, opposition parties had called on the Foreign Ministry to summon Guilfoyle to respond, with one former deputy foreign minister calling it “an issue of national dignity” . Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said she had been treated “the same way as every other ambassador” .
In her resignation statement, Guilfoyle defended her record, citing energy agreements and strengthened strategic cooperation between Greece and the United States. “These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity,” she wrote . She thanked Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and said her commitment to the America First movement would not end with her tenure .
Secretary Rubio, who had initially defended Guilfoyle, later declined to comment on the allegations, telling reporters at the foot of his plane in Athens that he would not respond to reports he could not confirm . White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia, in her first media briefing, said Guilfoyle “has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well” .
The White House confirmed Tuesday that Guilfoyle had been asked to resign. She submitted her resignation the same day. The State Department inspector general’s inquiry and congressional probes remain ongoing. No charges have been filed .
Disclaimer: The imagery accompanying this report is AI-generated and does not represent actual persons or events.
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Sources: Associated Press, CBC News, The Independent, Mediaite, Saudi Gazette
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