Trump Weighs Firing Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle Over Alleged Misconduct

President Donald Trump is reportedly considering the dismissal of U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle following reports of alleged misconduct before and during her tenure in Athens. Anonymous sources cited by the Associated Press and CNN suggest a decision is imminent. A senior U.S. official told the AP that Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are "extremely pissed off" by Guilfoyle's reported actions.

The controversy began to emerge in late September when The Wall Street Journal published a series of reports detailing Guilfoyle's alleged activities. These include promoting a Greek construction firm, bragging about luxury trips funded by businessmen, and reportedly asking a Trump donor to cover a $100,000 credit card bill in exchange for access to the Trump Administration.

The State Department's inspector general is investigating the allegations, according to reports from the AP and The Journal. The reports surfaced around Secretary Rubio's visit to Europe, during which he initially expressed skepticism about the media's reporting on Guilfoyle.

President Trump, when asked about the reports, stated, "I just heard about it—too bad." He added, "I mean, I don’t know. She’s an ambassador. I just heard a little bit about it. I don’t know too much. She was always very nice."

Vice President J.D. Vance, while reserving direct comment on the specific allegations, stated that he disapproves of "anybody selling access to another government official" and added that "if there was something bad that happened, then people have to suffer consequences for it."

Who is Kimberly Guilfoyle?

Kimberly Guilfoyle was nominated by President Trump as the U.S. ambassador to Greece in December 2024 and was sworn into office in September 2025. She is the first woman to hold this position. Prior to her ambassadorship, the 57-year-old Guilfoyle served as a prosecutor in San Francisco and Los Angeles. She also gained public recognition as a co-host of the Fox News political talk show "The Five" from 2011 to 2018. Guilfoyle was previously married to Gavin Newsom, the current Governor of California, from 2001 to 2006.

Reported Allegations

On September 25, The Wall Street Journal reported that Guilfoyle had promoted the Greek construction firm Aktor Group, arranging for its lobbyist to attend diplomatic meetings and encouraging Balkan governments to engage with the company. The report also detailed an alleged incident during a March dinner where Guilfoyle reportedly suggested to Greek government officials that the U.S. could influence political changes in other countries. Guilfoyle's lawyer and the Greek government have disputed this account.

On October 7, The Journal published a report citing text messages, allegedly from Guilfoyle ahead of her Senate confirmation hearing in July 2025, in which she asked businessman Eric Deters to wire $100,000 to cover her American Express debt in exchange for access to the Trump Administration. Deters reportedly claimed Guilfoyle promised to leverage her connections as former fiancée of Donald Trump Jr. Guilfoyle's lawyer denied the authenticity of the messages and stated that she was owed a balance for supporting patriotic events.

Three days later, The Journal reported, based on an audio recording, that Guilfoyle had flaunted luxury trips financed by businessmen. She reportedly acknowledged traveling on a private jet to the January 2026 World Economic Forum with the CEO of Aktor Group and mentioned plans to travel with a Greek shipping magnate who allegedly paid for her accommodations.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Athens stated that Guilfoyle has "faithfully followed State Department ethics and gift reporting guidelines."

Lawmaker Reactions

Democratic lawmakers have called for Guilfoyle's removal. Representative Gregory Meeks, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, sent a letter to Secretary Rubio requesting information about the allegations, stating that if true, Guilfoyle should be removed from her position. Representative Robert Garcia, top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, wrote to Guilfoyle requesting financial and communications records related to the controversy, citing serious public corruption and national security concerns.

Some Republican lawmakers have also expressed concern. Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso called the reports "very troubling" and anticipated an investigation, noting that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee would conduct oversight. He emphasized the public's right to know the findings.