What did Kimberly Guilfoyle do that led Trump to ask her to resign as US Ambassador to Greece?

Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned as US ambassador to Greece on Tuesday after the Trump administration asked her to leave the post following reports alleging improper conduct before and during her time in Athens.

The allegations included a reported request for a $100000 credit card payment from a Trump donor, claims that she offered access to administration officials in return and questions about her conduct in Greece and her private travel, as per a report.

The allegations have not been established as proven wrongdoing. Guilfoyle’s lawyers have denied that she acted improperly and said the money she sought was payment for public appearances and speaking engagements completed before her nomination as ambassador.


US president Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the reports on Monday. Asked at the White House whether he was considering firing Guilfoyle, he told reporters, “Well, we’re looking at it,” adding “We’re not happy,” as quoted by AP.

Kimberly Guilfoyle faced allegations over a $100,000 credit card bill

One of the main allegations involved a reported request for a Trump donor and supporter to pay Guilfoyle’s $100,000 credit card bill shortly before her confirmation hearing.

The Wall Street Journal reported, citing text messages, that Guilfoyle had offered access to administration officials in exchange for the payment.

Her lawyers, David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall, rejected the suggestion that the request involved improper conduct. In a statement released late Sunday, they said the money was owed for public appearances and speaking engagements that took place before Guilfoyle’s nomination and had not yet been paid.

The payment allegation was among the reports that drew scrutiny of Guilfoyle’s conduct and contributed to questions about her future in the diplomatic post.

Reports raised questions about Guilfoyle’s conduct in Greece

The Wall Street Journal published a series of reports beginning in late September describing alleged conduct by Guilfoyle before and during her tenure in Athens.

One report said she had told guests at a reception that the United States could undermine the Greek government if it chose to. The newspaper also reported that she promoted the business interests of a Greek construction and energy company and allowed the company’s lobbyist to attend private diplomatic meetings.

Another report alleged that Guilfoyle threatened a Greek official.

The reports prompted further scrutiny of her role as the US government’s representative in Greece. However, the allegations themselves do not establish that the reported conduct occurred as described.

Questions were also raised about private travel

Guilfoyle’s reported use of private planes and her interactions with people connected to the energy industry also came under scrutiny.

Her lawyers denied allegations of impropriety involving private flights. They said she had sought and obtained State Department guidance before each trip and followed the department’s travel regulations.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that Guilfoyle had been angered by not being invited to a Greek-themed event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, earlier in the year. According to the report, she demanded to attend while discussing luxury travel to France with energy company executives.

Separately, The Daily Mail reported that Guilfoyle had alienated staff at the US Embassy in Athens and pushed the boundaries of behavior expected of the US government’s top representative in Greece.

Trump and Marco Rubio expressed dissatisfaction with the reports

AP reported citing a senior US official, that Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were extremely angry about the allegations and were expected to decide Guilfoyle’s future during the week.

Rubio had previously defended her, saying the ambassador had been a strong representative in Greece. As the reports continued, however, he declined to confirm the allegations and criticized journalists for treating unverified claims as established facts.

On Tuesday, White House press secretary Katie Zacharia confirmed that the administration had asked Guilfoyle to leave her post. During her first media briefing, Zacharia described Guilfoyle as a “wonderful asset to the team” and said the administration wished her well, as quoted by AP.