Kimberly Guilfoyle is asked to resign by White House, new press secretary says

The United States ambassador to Greece has been asked to resign by the White House following mounting scrutiny over alleged ethical misconduct, financial demands directed at political donors, and high-end travel arrangements. The departure concludes a tumultuous tenure in Athens for the former television commentator and high-profile political figure.

According to reports, the controversy centers on allegations that the diplomat improperly leveraged her public position and sought financial favors. Investigators and journalists highlighted text message exchanges in which the ambassador asked an influential political supporter to settle personal debts.

The Press Secretary's Brief Debut

The demand for resignation was made public during the initial press briefing held by the newly appointed White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia, on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Zacharia stepped to the lectern in Washington for a tightly controlled appearance that lasted only a fraction of an hour.

Zacharia took a limited number of questions from select outlets before abruptly ending the session. She stated that President Donald Trump was departing for a campaign trip to Alaska and directed reporters to address inquiries directly to the president on the South Lawn.

"In fact, I am going to end it because President Trump is heading out to Marine One for our historic trip to Alaska, and we can ask him all of the questions out there."

Katie Zacharia, White House Press Secretary, via Associated Press

Zacharia succeeded Karoline Leavitt, who departed to join a cable network. Prior to her appointment, Zacharia worked as a conservative commentator and served briefly as a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security.

Allegations of Financial Impropriety and Luxury Travel

The scrutiny intensified following a series of investigative reports published by The Wall Street Journal. Those publications detailed private jet journeys, luxury hotel stays, and financial entanglements with prominent business figures.

Among the core allegations, the reporting revealed that the diplomat messaged Trump supporter Eric Deters shortly before her Senate confirmation hearings, asking him to wire funds directly to an American Express account to cover a five-figure credit card balance. Deters declined the request, noting that complying would have jeopardized his marriage.

Further reporting connected the diplomat to high-profile Greek businessmen, including shipping magnate Nikolas Tsakos and AKTOR Group chief executive Alexandros Exarchou. According to the investigations, arrangements involving private flights, exclusive resorts in Switzerland, and accommodation bills at luxury Parisian hotels raised questions regarding government ethics and the proper disclosure of gifts.

Individual Involved	Reported Connection	Allegation or Subject of Scrutiny
Eric Deters	Trump donor	Asked to wire funds to clear a credit card balance in exchange for access
Alexandros Exarchou	AKTOR Group CEO	Private jet travel to Davos and alleged promotion of energy business interests
Nikolas Tsakos	Tsakos Energy Navigation CEO	Luxury travel, Swiss resort stays, and Paris hotel accommodation coverage

Legal Defense and Official Responses

Representatives for the outgoing ambassador strongly denied any wrongdoing. Attorneys David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall released a statement asserting that all travel complied with State Department regulations and that prior clearance was sought for trips. They maintained that the funds requested from the political donor represented legitimate compensation for speaking engagements and consulting services predating the diplomatic nomination.

An official spokesperson for the US Embassy in Athens maintained that the ambassador adhered to all applicable ethics rules and disclosure requirements, characterizing the accusations as distractions from diplomatic work.

President Trump told reporters that while the diplomat had been performing effectively, the administration was dissatisfied with the published reports. Vice President JD Vance emphasized that the allegations required examination.

Political Fallout and Congressional Inquiries

The revelations triggered immediate demands for accountability from Capitol Hill. Democratic lawmakers pressed for thorough inquiries into potential violations of federal bribery laws and public corruption statutes.

Representative Gregory Meeks, the leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, formally requested an investigation into whether public office was used improperly. Separately, Representative Robert Garcia, the leading Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, demanded financial records and communications related to the ambassador's interactions.

Concurrently, the State Department's inspector general initiated an examination to determine whether federal regulations or gift guidelines were breached during her time in office.

Next Steps

Following the White House announcement, the former ambassador confirmed her departure on social media, emphasizing her continued alignment with the political movement while vowing to contest the accusations.

"These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity."

Kimberly Guilfoyle, former US Ambassador to Greece, via X

As the administration navigates the fallout from the briefing and congressional committees move forward with requests for documentation, the State Department inspector general's review remains active. Federal investigators will determine whether any laws or departmental ethics standards were violated during her tenure.