The White House has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece, to resign after reports that she pressed a Trump donor to pay her $100,000 credit card bill.
Story Highlights
- On Tuesday, October 13, new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia said the administration has asked Guilfoyle to step down.
- Reports say Guilfoyle asked Trump donor Eric Deters to pay a $100,000 American Express bill days before her Senate confirmation hearing.
- Reports also describe harsh treatment of embassy staff and close ties to Greek business interests.
- Guilfoyle’s lawyer says the messages are not authentic and that any claim of wrongdoing is “unsupported.”
Why the White House Acted
The request came after a string of reports about Guilfoyle’s money dealings, her treatment of embassy workers and her links to foreign business interests. Zacharia announced it at her first briefing. “We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign. She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well,” she said. The White House has not said whether Guilfoyle has stepped down.
U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle has been terminated following an investigation into allegations of misconduct
(Video: Rapid Response 47) pic.twitter.com/O8GT0U7qjg
— WION (@WIONews) October 13, 2026
Guilfoyle’s lawyer, Jesse Binnall, denies the claims. He says she was paid to speak at events before her nomination and was still owed money for travel tied to those events. He also disputes that the messages are real. “Any implication of wrongdoing by the Ambassador is unsupported,” he said.
The $100,000 Credit Card Bill
Eric Deters is a former Kentucky lawyer and congressional candidate who now hosts a conservative radio show and has long backed Trump. According to reports, Guilfoyle messaged him in early July 2025, days before her July 9 confirmation hearing. The messages asked him to wire $100,000 straight to American Express so there would be no paper trail. Reports say she offered to help him reach senior officials in return.
Deters says he never paid. He has called the offer a “quid pro quo,” a Latin phrase that means “this for that,” or a favor traded for a favor. Guilfoyle’s lawyer says the money was owed for past work, which Deters denies.
The Embassy Complaints
Unnamed sources quoted in reports describe a hostile workplace at the embassy in Athens. They say Guilfoyle threatened to fire workers and demoted members of her security team over small things. One officer was reportedly punished for not answering a 4 a.m. request for ice while she was on vacation on the Greek island of Mykonos.
Earlier reports also said she promoted a Greek company and let its lobbyist sit in on private diplomatic meetings. According to reports, the State Department’s inspector general, the agency’s in-house watchdog, opened a review of her treatment of staff, travel, gifts and business ties. That office has not confirmed the review.
What Officials Have Said
Trump spoke about the reports on Monday, October 12. “Well, we’re looking at it,” he said. “We’re not happy.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio had defended her the week before, saying, “Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here.” Vice President JD Vance urged people to “actually see what the facts are” and said wrongdoing should bring consequences.
Two leading Democrats, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, called for a review. Meeks said she should be removed if the claims hold up.
Why This Matters
An ambassador speaks for America in another country. Voters expect that job to go to someone who serves the country, not someone who trades access for cash. Trump nominated Guilfoyle in December 2024, and the claims remain allegations that her lawyer denies. The White House chose to act fast rather than wait for months of damage to pile up overseas.
Sources:
foxnews.com, usatoday.com, nytimes.com, edition.cnn.com, time.com
