Kimberly Guilfoyle out as US ambassador to Greece amid reports of an unpaid bill and a watchdog probe

The White House asked US ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, and she has since accepted the request. The removal followed a run of press reports about her conduct in Athens, which she denies.

Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host who was engaged to Donald Trump Jr. from 2020 to 2024, arrived in Athens in November 2025. She championed US energy projects at the center of Greek policy, including the Vertical Corridor, a gas route meant to carry American liquefied natural gas north into Europe.

Reports that preceded her removal

Her troubles began with a Wall Street Journal report that she had threatened Greek officials and pointed to America's ability to destabilize governments. She and the Greek government rejected that account. Shortly before midnight on Wednesday, 14 October, the Journal added that she had asked Trump donor Eric Deters, in July 2025, to pay $100,000 toward an American Express debt. Deters says he made no payment, while Guilfoyle's legal team contends he owes her roughly $150,000 tied to earlier speeches and consulting work.

The Daily Mail added a separate claim: an unpaid bill of 1,586 euros (about $1,768) for a dinner at an upscale restaurant in the southern suburbs. According to the paper, days before her removal she pressed State Department staff to have its article taken down ahead of Marco Rubio's visit. Officials refused unless she produced a bank receipt proving she had paid the bill herself. She never did, and the bill was sent straight to the US embassy. The same outlet reported that she sought a $250,000 loan from wealthy Greek businesspeople to buy a Mercedes G-Wagon, and that the request drew no response.

Rubio's visit and the Trump family link

During Rubio's visit in the week of 5 October, Guilfoyle gave him a warm welcome at the airport. According to the Daily Mail, she did not join his private meeting with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and guests at the official dinner described the mood between them as icy.

Earlier this year Donald Trump had said he knew her very well and had a nickname for her. After her removal he told reporters that she had not been part of his family and that he believed she had once had a relationship with his son. Stephanie Grisham, a former spokesperson for the White House and for the first lady, told CNN that she spent four years around Guilfoyle and the family at Mar-a-Lago and Bedminster. Unnamed sources close to the president told the Daily Mail that Guilfoyle kept a private diary about the family and could reveal its secrets after returning to the United States, claims that rest only on those anonymous sources.

Inquiry and her response

The conduct led to an official inquiry by the State Department's Office of Inspector General, which began the week of 5 October. Five sources told the Daily Mail that the probe continues into Guilfoyle and the running of the embassy. Three of them said it covers possible substance misuse, unapproved trips on private aircraft and helicopters, and improper acceptance of gifts, among other complaints.

In a lengthy statement posted on X, Guilfoyle denied any impropriety, called the accusations false and pledged to defend her name, reputation and integrity. Her lawyer declined to comment on specific aspects of the inquiry. Rubio sent staff a memo on conflicts of interest, telling them not to use public office for private gain.

Reactions in Athens and Washington

Greek officials treated the matter as an internal American affair. Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis stressed the strength of bilateral ties:

We continue and have cooperation, the highest possible cooperation, with our strategic ally, the United States.

Rubio had publicly backed her during his visit, saying:

Our embassy here is doing an excellent job.

As he left Greece, Rubio sounded irritated, saying he had not reviewed the evidence and would deal with the matter in a suitable manner. In Berlin, a Berliner Morgenpost commentary described her posting as a consolation prize. None of the allegations has been proven, and she denies wrongdoing. The articles do not name a successor for the Athens embassy.