Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) on Tuesday praised President Trump for his handling of financial fraud allegations against Kimberly Guilfoyle, the former U.S. ambassador to Greece who resigned earlier that morning.
In a post on X, Curtis said he appreciated the administration's seriousness in addressing the allegations. "Public service is a public trust, and political connections should never put anyone above accountability," he wrote. He added that Trump's willingness to act reflects the kind of leadership Americans want.
Guilfoyle's resignation was announced by new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia following mounting backlash over her financial dealings. Guilfoyle later issued her own statement on X, denying the allegations as "false" and vowing to "vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity." She said she would not let false accusations define her decades of public service.
The Wall Street Journal first reported last week that Guilfoyle asked Trump donor Eric Deters to cover a $100,000 credit card bill and instructed him to wire the funds to avoid a paper trail. The outlet also detailed new claims that wealthy Greek businessmen helped finance her luxury travel as she promoted their business interests. Those reports are central to the controversy that led to her exit, which Trump later attributed to negative press coverage.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump said Guilfoyle was doing a good job in Greece but that the administration disliked what it was reading. His comments echoed the narrative that the White House forced her out due to the steady stream of damaging stories, a point he has made in other contexts.
Curtis, who has broken with the administration on several recent issues, also recently criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's plan to livestream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan. In a social media statement, Curtis invoked Seneca's warning that "bloody spectacles corrupted the people who watched them," arguing that a civilization erodes when it treats executions as entertainment. He urged Hegseth to reconsider, saying the victims deserve justice administered with solemnity and that broadcasting a death diminishes the nation without serving as an effective deterrent.
The Guilfoyle episode has intensified scrutiny of the administration's vetting and ethics standards, with critics questioning how a major donor's financial support for an ambassador went unnoticed. The White House has not commented on the specifics of the allegations beyond confirming her resignation.
As the story develops, it remains unclear whether Guilfoyle will face further legal or congressional scrutiny. Her pledge to defend her reputation suggests she may challenge the allegations publicly or in court. For now, her departure marks a swift fall for a prominent Trump ally and raises new questions about the intersection of political loyalty, money, and public service.
