WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump indicated Monday that he is weighing whether to dismiss Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece, following published reports accusing her of ethical breaches and misconduct.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday as he departed for a campaign rally, Trump confirmed that his administration is reassessing Guilfoyle’s status as the top American diplomat in Athens. “We’re looking at it,” Trump said, adding, “Yeah, we’re not happy.”
Allegations of financial solicitations
The president’s comments came after The Wall Street Journal reported that Guilfoyle allegedly solicited cash from a political donor to pay off a hefty personal credit card balance, offering access to high-ranking administration figures in exchange. According to the reporting, the requests occurred in July 2025, only days prior to her Senate confirmation hearing.
The donor, former Kentucky attorney and conservative commentator Eric Deters, told ABC News and NBC News that Guilfoyle asked him to cover a $100,000 American Express tab. Deters described the proposal as “a quid pro quo” and provided copies of text messages attributed to Guilfoyle. In one message, she allegedly wrote that a wire sent directly to the credit card company would not appear on public records, while another urged him to finalize the transaction quickly. Deters said he never transferred the funds.
Attorneys representing Guilfoyle forcefully denied the accusations, asserting that Deters owed her money for previously completed consulting and speaking appearances. Her lawyers, David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall, argued in a statement reported by NBC News that she acted properly and that seeking compensation for prior employment did not constitute wrongdoing. They also disputed the authenticity of the purported messages and maintained that she adhered strictly to State Department regulations regarding gifts and travel.
Embassy turmoil and official scrutiny
Beyond the donor claims, reports by The Wall Street Journal pointed to audio recordings in which Guilfoyle reportedly claimed that prominent Greek business executives paid for her personal travel and private flights. The newspaper also reported that she told an official in Athens that the U.S. government could bring down Greece’s government.
Democratic lawmakers on both the House and Senate foreign affairs panels have urged the State Department to open a formal inquiry into the ambassador’s actions. The State Department Office of the Inspector General has launched an examination into Guilfoyle and operations at the Athens mission, two sources familiar with the matter told NBC News.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced questions about the envoy during an official diplomatic trip to Greece last week. While departing Athens, Rubio declined to address the claims, telling reporters he did not know whether they were true. However, officials close to the secretary noted growing dissatisfaction within the department, and ABC News reported that Guilfoyle appeared at certain events on Rubio’s itinerary without receiving an official invitation from the department.
Guilfoyle’s political path
Trump selected Guilfoyle, 57, for the Athens ambassadorship in December 2024 before taking office for his second term. A former prosecutor in California and former Fox News anchor, she served as a key surrogate and fundraiser during Trump’s political campaigns. She was previously married to California Gov. Gavin Newsom and was later engaged to Donald Trump Jr. before the couple separated in 2024.
White House and State Department officials have held preliminary conversations regarding her future, but administration sources told ABC News that no final decision on Guilfoyle’s dismissal has been enacted, leaving the ultimate determination to the president.
