Kimberly Guifoyle has resigned as U.S. ambassador to Greece, following an explosive report alleging she pleaded with a Trump donor to pay off her six-figure credit card bill.
White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia revealed that the president had asked Guilfoyle to resign on Tuesday. “She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well,” Zacharia told reporters during her first-ever White House briefing.
Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and ex-fiance of Donald Trump Jr., posted a lengthy statement on social media afterwards, thanking Trump for the opportunity to serve and vowing to “vigorously” fight the “false” allegations against her.
“Serving as the United States Ambassador to Greece has been the honor of a lifetime,” she wrote. “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.”
Guilfoyle, 57, had faced a string of damaging news reports in recent weeks, raising questions about her conduct in office and leading Trump to publicly muse about cutting her loose. On Monday, the president told reporters he was “not happy” with Guilfoyle and said he was “looking at” potentially firing her.
The 80-year-old president distanced himself from Guilfoyle on Monday, telling reporters she “wasn’t a member of my family” and that she “dated my son a long time ago.”
“She went to Greece, she was doing a good job, but we didn’t like what we were reading,” he added.
On October 7, The Wall Street Journal reported that she had asked a Trump donor to pay off her $100,000 American Express bill in the lead-up to her September 2025 confirmation as U.S. ambassador. “Honey please I need you to get this done for me today,” she reportedly texted Eric Deters, asking him to wire the money in a way that would not leave a paper trail.
She had also offered Deters access to top administration officials, including former IRS Commissioner Billy Long and FBI Director Kash Patel, the Journal reported, citing text messages. An attorney for Guilfoyle said she contested the authenticity of the text messages and added that she was owed money for paid speaking events.
Deters, a retired Kentucky lawyer, said on Monday that he intends to sue Guilfoyle.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio — who was in Greece with Guilfoyle after the story published — initially declined to comment. “You guys walk around thinking that because some source told you something and you reported it, it’s the gospel,” he told reporters on Thursday. “It’s not the gospel.”
The Journal also reported in late September that the U.S. ambassador had been promoting a Greek construction firm, where one of her advisers served as a lobbyist. The adviser, who sat in on official meetings, never disclosed his ties to the firm. A lawyer for Guilfoyle said she had “worked with companies across the energy sector.”
Over the weekend, the newspaper published a third report about Guilfoyle that raised eyebrows.
The story alleged that — shortly after her Senate confirmation — the former Fox News host had “boasted about her close ties to two Greek tycoons and said they were bankrolling her high-rolling trips around the world.” An embassy spokesperson called the claim “unsubstantiated” and “a distraction from the great work [Guilfoyle] is doing in Greece.”
Guilfoyle appeared to address these reports in her Tuesday statement.
“These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity,” she wrote. “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.”
She later edited her post to include the line: “My deepest heartfelt appreciation to the people of Greece for their hospitality, partnership, and welcoming me with open arms.”
Her resignation marks a stunning fall from grace for a former Fox News star who nearly became a member of Donald Trump’s family.
A former San Francisco assistant district attorney and the ex-wife of Gavin Newsom, Guilfoyle worked at Fox News from 2006 to 2018, co-hosting The Five, one of the network’s most-watched shows. She was abruptly forced out from Fox News, which paid her former assistant about $4 million after a complaint alleging sexual harassment was drafted,The New Yorker reported.
Following her departure from the conservative network, she began working for a pro-Trump PAC and started dating the president’s eldest son. The pair became engaged in 2020.
But, the engagement was called off after Donald Trump Jr. was spotted holding hands with Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson in September 2024. The pair married in May of this year.
In December 2024, the president announced he would nominate Guilfoyle as U.S. ambassador to Greece.
“For many years, Kimberly has been a close friend and ally,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Her extensive experience and leadership in law, media, and politics along with her sharp intellect make her supremely qualified to represent the United States, and safeguard its interests abroad.”