Kimberly Guilfoyle asked to resign as US ambassador to Greece over donor payment allegations
The White House has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to step down as US ambassador to Greece after reports she sought payment from a Trump donor in exchange for access to administration officials, ending the diplomatic career of one of Trump's longest-standing political allies.
Kimberly Guilfoyle has been asked to step down as US ambassador to Greece following weeks of reports that she sought payment from a Trump donor in exchange for access to administration officials. The decision, announced by the White House, ends the diplomatic career of one of Donald Trump's longest-standing political allies.
The move came after Trump and Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, were reported to have grown furious over the allegations. The White House said in a statement that Guilfoyle «has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well», confirming the president had asked for her resignation.
The controversy centres on claims that Guilfoyle approached a former Trump donor asking for help paying off a personal American Express bill, while offering access to administration officials in return. The donor has since vowed to sue her, intensifying the pressure on the ambassador as the White House weighed her future.
Guilfoyle's departure marks a significant fall for a figure who has been a fixture in Trump's political orbit for years. She served as a senior adviser on his 2020 campaign and was a prominent surrogate during his presidential runs, known for her combative television appearances and fundraising role within the Republican Party.
Her appointment as ambassador to Greece was seen as a reward for that loyalty, placing her in a strategically important Nato member state with longstanding defence and trade ties to Washington. The role carries weight in a region where the US maintains a significant military presence, including at the Souda Bay naval base on Crete.
The allegations against Guilfoyle have raised questions about the vetting and conduct of political appointees in diplomatic posts. The reports that she sought financial assistance from a donor while offering official access touch on rules governing the use of public office for private gain, though no criminal charges have been announced.
The White House has not elaborated on the timing of the decision or whether Guilfoyle will return to the United States immediately. It remains unclear who will be nominated to replace her in Athens, a posting that requires Senate confirmation and carries responsibility for managing a key bilateral relationship in the eastern Mediterranean.
Guilfoyle has not publicly commented on the request for her resignation or on the allegations that prompted it. The donor at the centre of the reports has indicated he intends to pursue legal action, suggesting the dispute may continue beyond her departure from the diplomatic service.
The episode adds to a pattern of scrutiny facing Trump administration appointees over their financial dealings and use of office. For Greece, the change in ambassador comes at a time of ongoing regional tensions and close US-Greek cooperation on defence and energy matters, leaving a gap in a relationship that Washington has sought to strengthen.
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