Guilfoyle Resigns at Trump's Request Following Credit Card Scandal

13 Oct 2026, 14:52 by Philip Elliott · TIME

Kimberly Guilfoyle on Tuesday announced her resignation as President Donald Trump's Ambassador to Greece, amid a deluge of negative press including allegations that she asked a political donor to handle her $100,000 personal American Express bill.

"Serving as the United States Ambassador to Greece has been the honor of a lifetime," Guilfoyle wrote in a lengthy statement posted to X. "From my first day as Ambassador, I have worked tirelessly to advance President Trump’s America First agenda, strengthen our strategic alliance with Greece, and deliver meaningful victories for the American people."

Guilfoyle's announcement came soon after Katie Zacharia, the White House’s new press secretary, confirmed at her first briefing that Trump had asked for the resignation of Guilfoyle.

“We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign. She has been a wonderful asset to the team and we wish her well,” Zacharia said in an unusually brief debut in the briefing room.

Along with recent allegations about her dealings with a campaign donor, Guilfoyle, who was once engaged to Donald Trump Jr. and a major player in the MAGA movement, racked up a reputation for hard partying in Athens and living large as Trump’s personal rep in the region.

Allegations about Guilfoyle's conduct

The controversy began in late September, when The Wall Street Journal published a series of reports about Guilfoyle’s conduct before and during her tenure in Athens. The reports included allegations that she promoted a Greek construction company’s business interests, traveled on private jets and stayed in luxury accommodations paid for by businessmen, and sought money from a Trump donor to cover her personal credit card debt.

In one of the most serious allegations, the Journal reported that Guilfoyle exchanged text messages with businessman Eric Deters, a Trump donor, ahead of her Senate confirmation hearing in July 2025, asking him to wire $100,000 to clear her American Express bill. According to the report, Guilfoyle offered to use her connections to the Trump Administration, including her relationship with Trump Jr., to help Deters gain access to administration officials. Deters told the Journal that he did not pay her.

The Journal also reported that she promoted the Greek construction firm Aktor Group and that its lobbyist, Christos Marafatsos, attended diplomatic meetings across Balkan countries. It reported that Guilfoyle encouraged governments in the region to work with the company. Lawyers for Guilfoyle and Aktor Group disputed allegations that she acted improperly in promoting its business interests.

In another report, the Journal cited an audio recording in which Guilfoyle allegedly discussed luxury travel paid for by businessmen, including a private jet trip to the January 2026 World Economic Forum with Aktor Group CEO Alexandros Exarchou.

Guilfoyle’s lawyers have denied wrongdoing. Her attorney, Jesse Binnall, disputed the authenticity of the reported messages and said the money she sought was payment for earlier unpaid services, including travel and appearances at events before her nomination.

"These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity," Guilfoyle said in her post on Tuesday announcing her resignation. "I have dedicated my professional life to fighting for justice, standing up for what is right, and defending the values that make America exceptional. I will not allow false accusations to define my decades of public service."

The allegations prompted scrutiny from lawmakers in both parties. Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, sought answers from Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a September letter, saying the reports suggested potentially corrupt influences on U.S. foreign policy. Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, later requested financial and communications records from Guilfoyle, citing public corruption and national security concerns. Senate Republican Majority Whip John Barrasso called the reports “very troubling” and said the Senate Foreign Relations Committee would examine the matter.

Guilfoyle's history with Trump's family

Guilfoyle’s departure comes as the controversy has drawn attention to her relationship with the Trump family and her transition from conservative media personality to diplomat. A former prosecutor in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Guilfoyle rose to prominence as a co-host of Fox News’ The Five, which she joined in 2011. She left the network in 2018 and helped raise funds for Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign. She was also a witness to events leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and met with the House committee investigating the insurrection in 2022.

Trump announced his intention to nominate Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece in December 2024, amid reports that she and Trump Jr. had split. The Senate confirmed her nomination in 2025, and she was sworn in that September, becoming the first woman to serve as U.S. ambassador to Greece.

Guilfoyle was previously married to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat widely viewed as a potential 2028 presidential contender. The two were married from 2001 to 2006, before Newsom became governor.

“Kimberly Guilfoyle was not a member of my family. I guess she dated my son a long time ago,” Trump told reporters outside the White House, shortly after Guilfoyle announced her resignation.

The President suggested Guilfoyle’s ouster was driven by recent negative stories about her coming to light. “We didn’t like what we were reading,” he said.