Trump Weighs Firing Kimberly Guilfoyle as Greece Ambassador

Kimberly Guilfoyle, the US ambassador to Greece, in a 2025 file photo. President Trump said on October 12 that he is considering removing her from the post. (Photo: DHSgov via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

By GlobalDeskNews Staff | 13 October 2026

President Donald Trump said on Monday, October 12, that he is considering firing Kimberly Guilfoyle as US ambassador to Greece, telling reporters at the White House that he is "looking at" removing her and that he is "not happy." It's the clearest signal yet that her diplomatic career is in danger, following weeks of Wall Street Journal reports about alleged text messages in which she asked a Trump donor to wire $100,000 to her American Express account, luxury travel paid for by Greek businessmen, and a State Department inspector general inquiry.

Quick Answer: On October 12, President Trump said he is "looking at" firing US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle and is "not happy," after WSJ reports tied her to a $100,000 donor credit card bill and luxury travel paid by Greek tycoons. The State Department's inspector general is examining the allegations, which her lawyers deny. A decision is expected soon.

Trump "looking at" firing Kimberly Guilfoyle as Greece ambassador

Trump made the remarks on Monday as he spoke to reporters at the White House, before departing for a campaign event. Asked directly whether he might dismiss his ambassador to Greece, he didn't hedge: "Well, we're looking at it. Yeah, we're not happy."

The comments marked a shift from three days earlier. When CNN asked Trump about the reports on Friday, October 9, he played them down: "I just heard about it. It's too bad," he said. "I don't know. She's an ambassador.… She was always very nice."

What changed was the weekend. Per the Wall Street Journal, administration officials spent it discussing whether Guilfoyle could stay, with some floating the idea of asking her to step down voluntarily — sparing Trump the embarrassment of firing her.

The $100,000 text messages that started it all

The scandal broke open when the Journal first reported text messages from Guilfoyle asking Eric Deters — a Trump donor and former congressional candidate in Kentucky — to wire $100,000 to her American Express account last year, days before her Senate confirmation hearing. In one message sent on Signal, she wrote: "It won't show up anywhere if you wire money to American Express."

Deters had previously paid Guilfoyle speaking fees, and the Journal reported he had also paid $200,000 to Donald Trump Jr. and $100,000 to Eric Trump. This time he refused.

A later Journal report said the texts showed Guilfoyle offering, in return, to use her influence to get the Trump administration to look into the donor's personal tax and legal issues. The AP called it a promise of access to administration officials.

Her lawyers flatly deny it. Attorney Jesse Binnall told the Journal she disputed the messages' authenticity and said she had been paid to speak at events before her nomination, and "was owed a balance" for travel and support. Deters said he owed her nothing.

Davos, private jets and luxury hotels

The credit card texts were only the first volley. In a series of stories dating back to late September, the Journal has detailed a pattern of conduct it describes as questionable — including an alleged threat to a host-country official, promoting the business interests of a Greek construction-and-energy company, and allowing that company's lobbyist into private diplomatic meetings.

The most vivid reporting came from an audio recording the Journal reviewed from the World Economic Forum in Davos this past January, on which Guilfoyle is heard boasting about close ties to two wealthy Greek businessmen, saying they were bankrolling her high-flying lifestyle.

She had flown to the January 2026 forum on a private jet with Alexandros Exarchou, the chief executive of Greek construction firm Aktor Group — a man she called "my people" on the recording. The Journal has also reported that Guilfoyle pressed governments from Bulgaria to Albania to do business with Exarchou and buy billions of dollars' worth of American natural gas through his company.

The recording also captured her plans to fly to Paris with Greek shipping tycoon Nikolas Tsakos for his wife's fashion show, after holiday time together in Gstaad. At Paris's Four Seasons Hotel George V, the bill fell to Tsakos, CEO of Tsakos Energy Navigation, per people familiar with the matter. She later posted 20 photos from the trip to her two million Instagram followers.

Why it matters

Here's the part that stung the administration most: the timing. The reports landed just as Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Athens for a high-profile visit, including a speech on Western democracy before the Acropolis. Rubio learned about Guilfoyle's texts from the Journal's request for comment while on the plane to Athens, and aides worried the story would overshadow his address.

Rubio initially defended her, saying last Wednesday: "Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here." By Thursday, departing Athens, he was frustrated, declining to weigh in at length and saying he wasn't sure whether the reports were true.

Vice President JD Vance said on October 8: "Obviously, I don't love that." The next day he cautioned against trying her in the court of public opinion, saying people should wait for the facts and that wrongdoing would bring consequences.

There's a political dimension too. Guilfoyle was once engaged to Donald Trump Jr. — a tie to the president's family that makes this an especially awkward scandal for the White House. With midterms approaching, an ethics cloud over a former member of the Trump family circle is a distraction the administration didn't need.

Her defense

Guilfoyle hasn't spoken publicly, but her lawyers, David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall, said Sunday she had done nothing wrong: the money she sought was payment for pre-nomination appearances that had never been paid. "Ambassador Guilfoyle has served, and will continue to serve, with integrity, honor and distinction," they said.

The US Embassy in Athens has also stood by her. A spokesman said she had "faithfully followed State Department ethics and gift reporting guidelines," calling the claims unsubstantiated and "simply a distraction from the great work she is doing in Greece and the broader Eastern Mediterranean."

Her lawyers further rejected any impropriety around her travel on private planes, saying that before every such trip she had sought and followed State Department guidance on private travel.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who visited Athens last week as the allegations against Guilfoyle surfaced — Secretary of State Marco Rubio in his January 2025 official portrait. He visited Athens last week as the allegations against Guilfoyle surfaced and declined to comment on them at length. (Photo: US Department of State via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

What happens next

Three separate tracks are now running at once. First, the White House decision: Trump is expected to decide soon, aides told the Journal, and the AP reported a decision on her future will likely come this week.

Second, the inspector general inquiry. The State Department's Office of the Inspector General is looking into whether Guilfoyle received gifts or favors from private businessmen. One caution, from the AP: a US official couldn't confirm a formal probe had begun — inspectors general often run informal inquiries that never become full investigations.

Third, Congress. Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top House Foreign Affairs Democrat, wrote to Guilfoyle on Friday calling for an "immediate investigation" into possible federal bribery and corruption violations. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen has pressed for a probe, and Rep. Robert Garcia, the top House Oversight Democrat, said the conduct "raises serious public corruption and national security concerns" and requested her records.

So what happens now? If Trump fires her, it would be an unusually swift fall — and a personal embarrassment, given her family ties. If he keeps her, he owns every new revelation. Either way, the inspector general's inquiry and congressional pressure aren't going away.

Key Takeaways

President Trump said on October 12 he is "looking at" firing US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle and is "not happy," the strongest signal yet that her job is at risk.
The Wall Street Journal reported texts in which Guilfoyle asked Trump donor Eric Deters to wire $100,000 to her American Express account before her confirmation hearing; Deters refused. Her lawyers dispute the messages' authenticity.
The Journal also reported audio of Guilfoyle boasting that Greek businessmen — including shipping tycoon Nikolas Tsakos and Aktor Group CEO Alexandros Exarchou — paid for her private-jet travel and luxury hotel stays.
The State Department's inspector general is looking into whether Guilfoyle received gifts or favors from private businessmen; Democrats in Congress, including Rep. Gregory Meeks and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, have demanded investigations.
Guilfoyle's lawyers and the US Embassy in Athens deny any wrongdoing, saying she followed State Department ethics and gift reporting guidelines.
A decision from Trump is expected soon — the AP reports likely this week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Trump firing Kimberly Guilfoyle?

Not yet — but on October 12 Trump said he is "looking at" removing her and is "not happy" about Wall Street Journal reports alleging misconduct: a $100,000 donor credit card bill, luxury travel from Greek businessmen, and a threat to a host-country official. The State Department's inspector general is looking into whether she accepted improper gifts or favors.

What did Kimberly Guilfoyle allegedly ask the donor to do?

The Wall Street Journal reported that Guilfoyle texted Trump donor Eric Deters, asking him to wire $100,000 to her American Express account just before her Senate confirmation hearing last year. The Journal says she offered to use her influence with the Trump administration in return. Deters refused, and her lawyer says she disputes the texts' authenticity.

Who paid for Guilfoyle's luxury travel in Davos and Paris?

According to the Wall Street Journal's audio recording, Guilfoyle flew to the January 2026 Davos forum on a private jet with Aktor Group CEO Alexandros Exarchou, and planned to fly to Paris with shipping tycoon Nikolas Tsakos — who reportedly paid for her stay at the Four Seasons Hotel George V. Her lawyers say she followed State Department travel rules.

What is the Kimberly Guilfoyle Greece ambassador gifts investigation about?

The State Department's inspector general is looking into whether Guilfoyle received gifts or favors from private businessmen, according to the Wall Street Journal. One US official told the AP it wasn't clear a formal probe had begun — inspectors general often start with informal inquiries. The State Department has declined to comment.

What has Guilfoyle said in her defense?

Guilfoyle hasn't commented directly, but her lawyers say the money she sought was unpaid compensation for pre-nomination speeches and appearances — not a bribe. The US Embassy in Athens said she had "faithfully followed State Department ethics and gift reporting guidelines" and called the claims unsubstantiated. Her lawyers add she followed department guidance before every private-plane trip.

Who is calling for an investigation into Kimberly Guilfoyle?

Several congressional Democrats want probes. Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called for an "immediate investigation" into possible bribery and corruption violations. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire urged an inquiry, and Rep. Robert Garcia of California requested her financial records and communications.

When will Trump decide whether to fire Guilfoyle?

A decision is expected soon. Aides told the Wall Street Journal Trump will decide soon, and the AP reported — citing a senior US official — that Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will likely decide this week. Over the weekend, some officials floated asking her to resign voluntarily to spare Trump the embarrassment of firing her.