Trump's Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Resigns Within Two Hours of White House Ouster Request

The White House publicly asked U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign on Tuesday as accusations of improper conduct mounted, and she announced within two hours that she was quitting, The Associated Press reported. Guilfoyle insisted she would "vigorously defend" herself.

The request came at the first media briefing of newly installed White House press secretary Katie Zacharia, who was asked about Guilfoyle's fate. Zacharia said Guilfoyle "has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well." President Donald Trump, speaking just after the resignation was posted on Guilfoyle's X account, said he had not spoken to her but "she will not be there." He added: "She went to Greece. She was doing a good job, but we didn't like what we were reading."

The allegations first surfaced in a series of Wall Street Journal stories dating to late last month. The paper reported questionable conduct including an alleged threat to a host country official, acceptance of improper gifts and services, and an offer to use her influence inside the Republican administration in return for payment of a large credit card bill. The AP reported over the weekend, citing a senior U.S. official, that Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were "extremely pissed off" at the reported conduct.

Guilfoyle addressed the accusations in her resignation post. "These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity," she wrote. "I have dedicated my professional life to fighting for justice, standing up for what is right, and defending the values that make America exceptional."

Her lawyers, David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall, said in a statement late Sunday that she had done nothing wrong. They said the money she was seeking from a Trump donor was payment for public appearances and speaking engagements that predate her ambassadorial nomination and had not been paid. They also rejected allegations tied to private plane travel, saying she sought, obtained and followed State Department guidance before each trip.

Rubio had defended her at first. Last week he said, "Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here." On Thursday, speaking before leaving Athens with Guilfoyle watching, he berated reporters for asking, saying he did not know whether the claims were true and that what a source tells a reporter "is not the gospel."

A second U.S. official, speaking anonymously to discuss personnel matters, said the State Department's inspector general was looking into the allegations, though the official could not say whether a formal investigation had begun. Inspectors general often handle complaints informally, and many inquiries never become full investigations that can lead to discipline.

Guilfoyle has not said what she will do next, and the AP report did not say who will lead the embassy in Athens in the meantime.