President Trump asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign as U.S. ambassador to Greece after donor payment allegations surfaced, saying they did not like what they were reading.
White House press secretary Katie Zacharia made the announcement in her first briefing on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. She stated the administration had asked the ambassador to step down from the post in Greece.
Zacharia told reporters the move followed critical Wall Street Journal reports. “We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign. She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well.”
President Trump later addressed the matter directly when a reporter asked how surprised he was by the allegations. He made clear Guilfoyle was not family and pointed to the material that had circulated.
“No, she wasn't a member of my family. She, I guess, 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.”
That reading centered on claims Guilfoyle sought $100,000 from Trump donor Eric Deters to cover an American Express bill. The Independent detailed the reported texts and the timing around her confirmation.
The Wall Street Journal reviewed a July 3, 2025, message attributed to Guilfoyle. It read, “Honey, please I need you to get this done for me today.” The request allegedly came days before her July 9, 2025, Senate confirmation hearing for the Greece post.
Deters, described as a donor seeking attention for personal tax and legal issues, reportedly did not provide the money. Guilfoyle has denied the entire account. No charges or formal ethics findings appear in the available record.
Earlier coverage had already shown the administration weighing her status in the post. Trump had signaled dissatisfaction before the formal request.
Breitbart noted Trump previously said he was looking at the situation and was “not happy.” The Journal reports also referenced broader claims of improper gifts, threats, and influence-peddling. Guilfoyle rejected those as well.
After the White House announcement, Guilfoyle posted on X that the ambassadorship had been the honor of a lifetime. She thanked President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the chance to represent the country.
“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.”
She added she would not allow false accusations to define decades of public service. Guilfoyle previously worked as a California prosecutor and Fox News host. She had been engaged to Donald Trump Jr. for nearly four years until they split in late 2024.
A People source at the time called it a friendly split and said the Trump family remained enamored with her. Dating rumors involving Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson, now his wife, had begun swirling in December 2024.
Just The News reported her further statement of ongoing loyalty. “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.”
Readers following personnel moves may also recall other high-profile exits, including when Fox Business cut ties in a separate media case. The pattern of swift accountability remains consistent.
Zacharia’s announcement came less than a week after the donor allegations became public. Trump’s team moved once the Journal material was in circulation. Guilfoyle had been confirmed and was serving in Greece when the request came.
The president’s public comments kept the focus on the substance of what had been published rather than personal history. He acknowledged her work in the role while drawing a clear line at the reports themselves.
Separate recent decisions, such as when Trump rejected institutional pressure on another front, show the same preference for direct judgment over prolonged debate. Personnel questions receive the same treatment.
Background on Guilfoyle’s earlier public profile includes her signals around other California political stories, noted when she addressed past personal matters in prior coverage. Those threads stay secondary to the ambassador decision.
No injuries, arrests, or formal State Department sanctions beyond the resignation request are recorded. The core sequence remains the Journal texts, the White House ask, Trump’s explanation, and Guilfoyle’s denial.
Voters expect officials to answer for conduct that raises questions about judgment and access. When reports of a six-figure personal ask surface around a confirmation window, the responsible step is to end the assignment and move on.