President Trump on Tuesday confirmed that Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle was asked to resign, attributing the decision to a barrage of unflattering media reports about her conduct. Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump said, "She went to Greece. She was doing a good job, but we didn't like what we were reading."
The president downplayed Guilfoyle's relationship with his family, noting that she was once engaged to his son, Donald Trump Jr., but that the connection was distant. "She wasn't a member of my family. I guess she dated my son a long time ago," Trump said. He also revealed that he had not personally spoken with Guilfoyle about the decision, adding, "I didn't speak to her. But she won't be there. I didn't like what I read."
The White House announced the resignation request on Tuesday, and Guilfoyle quickly took to social media to acknowledge her departure. In a statement on X, she rejected any allegations of wrongdoing and expressed continued support for Trump's political agenda, writing, "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."
Guilfoyle's ouster follows a series of investigative reports that raised questions about her conduct both before and during her tenure in Athens. A Wall Street Journal report detailed her close relationship with a lobbyist for a Greek shipping firm, including his participation in high-level meetings and her acceptance of private flights paid for by the company. Another report revealed text messages between Guilfoyle and a Trump donor, in which she sought $100,000 to pay off credit card debt. The donor, Eric Deters, claimed that Guilfoyle promised to advocate for him with top Trump officials in exchange for the money.
A third report, published just days before her removal, described Guilfoyle boasting about her connections to Greek shipping magnates who were funding her lavish travel. These stories painted a picture of an ambassador using her position for personal benefit, a charge her critics were quick to seize upon.
Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host, was appointed to the ambassadorship in 2023, a move that was seen as a reward for her loyalty to Trump. Her engagement to Donald Trump Jr. ended in 2024, but she remained a prominent figure in Trump's political circle. The president's comments on Tuesday suggest that even those ties could not shield her from the fallout of the negative coverage.
The ouster adds to a growing list of personnel changes in the Trump administration, as the president continues to reshape his team ahead of the midterm elections. The decision also underscores the president's sensitivity to media scrutiny, particularly when it involves potential ethical lapses by his appointees. As Trump put it, "We didn't like what we were reading."
