White House asks Guilfoyle to step down
The administration of President Donald Trump asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign as United States ambassador to Greece, White House press secretary Katie Zacharia said on Tuesday. Guilfoyle, a former Fox News presenter, had been under intense scrutiny in recent days following accusations that she asked a Trump donor to pay a large credit card bill. In exchange, she allegedly would facilitate access to the Trump administration. She also faces accusations of inappropriate behavior during her time as ambassador in Athens. Trump said on Tuesday that Guilfoyle had done a good job but would no longer be in Greece, adding that he did not like what he read.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5][S6][S7][S8]
Guilfoyle promised to defend herself against what she called false accusations and said the ambassador post had been the honor of her life. During her first press conference as White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia announced that Guilfoyle had been asked to resign, without giving further details. Zacharia said Guilfoyle had been a key part of the team and wished her the best. Guilfoyle, the 57-year-old ex-wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom, was first nominated as envoy to Athens in December 2024, a month before Trump returned to the White House as president.[S1]
Guilfoyle denies allegations and vows to fight
In a lengthy post on X, Guilfoyle thanked President Trump on Tuesday, said she would always be a loyal supporter and denied any wrongdoing. She wrote that she intended to vigorously defend her name, reputation and integrity, adding that she would not allow false accusations to define her decades of public service. Her position in the Trump administration had become increasingly precarious as allegations of inappropriate conduct mounted over the past week.[S1]
The scandal: text messages and audio recordings
A series of text messages obtained by the BBC and first reported by The Wall Street Journal appear to show Guilfoyle asking Eric Deters, a former Trump ally, for money. In one Signal message, she wrote that it would not appear anywhere if he sent money to American Express. In another message, dated a few days before her confirmation hearing in the US Senate last July, she wrote: "Darling, please, I need you to do this for me today." Guilfoyle's lawyers questioned the authenticity of the messages and said she was claiming money owed to her for speeches and consulting work done on her behalf before she became ambassador.[S1]
According to reports, audio recordings obtained by The Wall Street Journal include Guilfoyle boasting about her connections with prominent Greek business magnates who, she said, funded luxury travel and private jet flights. According to the newspaper, she also boasted to an official in Athens that the United States could overthrow the Greek government. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was accompanied by Guilfoyle during a trip to Athens last week, was also displeased with the allegations against the ambassador.[S1]
After news emerged that Guilfoyle was being asked to leave her post, Deters told the BBC that it was a great day for American diplomacy. He said he had not paid Guilfoyle anything and that it was a complete lie that he owed her money for speaking and consulting fees. He added that he plans to take legal action against her.[S1]
Relationship with Trump's son and new press secretary
Guilfoyle was a long-time political ally of Trump and had a romantic relationship for years with his son Donald Jr., to whom she became engaged in 2018. The relationship ended in 2024, around the time she was appointed to the post in Greece. Trump said on Tuesday that although she had a relationship with his son a long time ago, he did not consider her a member of the family. The president said he had not spoken with Guilfoyle before she was asked to resign: "She went to Greece, she was doing a good job, but we didn't like what we read."[S1]
About his new press secretary, who gave an unusually brief press conference, the president said she had been very good. Zacharia is also a long-time conservative media commentator and Trump supporter. She answered only a handful of questions during the 14-minute press conference. She said she considered her job to be to amplify, multiply and expand President Trump's incredible agenda.[S1]
