Trump Fires Ambassador To Greece Guilfoyle Over Alleged Misconduct

Guy The White House has asked the United States Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, to resign following media reports alleging that she offered access to Trump administration officials in exchange for money, gifts and favours.

US President Donald Trump had said on Monday that he was considering firing Guilfoyle, who was previously engaged to his son, Donald Trump Jr.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trump said: “She was doing a good job, but we didn’t like what we were reading.”

White House Press Secretary, Katie Zacharia, confirmed that Guilfoyle had been asked to resign, describing her as a valuable member of the administration.

“She has ⁠been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well,” Zacharia told a press briefing.

The decision followed a series of reports by The Wall Street Journal beginning last month, which raised questions about Guilfoyle’s conduct as ambassador and alleged that she sought to use her position to advance private interests.

US lawmakers had also expressed concern over the reports, which included claims that Guilfoyle threatened to use American influence to undermine the Greek government.

However, Guilfoyle denied any wrongdoing, insisting that her loyalty to Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio remained unchanged.

In a post on X, she said: “While my time as Ambassador may be coming to an end, my commitment to President Trump, the America First movement, and the country I love will never end.”

She added: “These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity.”

One of the Wall Street Journal reports detailed Guilfoyle’s relationship with a lobbyist representing a Greek energy company and her alleged promotion of the firm’s interests.

Another report cited audio recordings in which Guilfoyle allegedly discussed her connections with wealthy Greek businessmen while seeking an invitation to a Davos dinner honouring Eric Trump, another of the president’s sons.

A US businessman, Eric Deters, also told the newspaper that Guilfoyle had offered access to Trump administration officials in exchange for money.

According to the report, she once asked him to pay her $100,000 credit card bill.

Meanwhile, Britain’s Daily Mail reported last week that the State Department’s internal watchdog was investigating complaints of inappropriate behaviour by staff at the US embassy in Athens.

The Greek government has yet to comment on the allegations surrounding Guilfoyle’s tenure, while the US State Department and the American embassy in Athens did not respond to requests for comment.

Guilfoyle’s departure comes amid important diplomatic and security ties between the United States and Greece, a key North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ally.

Greece provides strategic military facilities that support American security interests in the Eastern Mediterranean and leads a European Union maritime mission aimed at protecting commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

During a visit to Athens last week, Rubio announced that the two countries were launching a new counterterrorism information-sharing initiative involving their law enforcement agencies.

Since arriving in Athens last November, Guilfoyle has maintained a high public profile, appearing on the cover of Vogue Greece and attending social events with Greek celebrities.

She also promoted American commercial interests, including agreements involving US liquefied natural gas imports and oil and gas drilling deals involving companies such as Exxon Mobil.

However, her comments on China’s involvement in Greece’s strategic infrastructure generated diplomatic tensions.

In her first interview with local media after arriving in Athens, Guilfoyle said China should sell its 67 per cent stake in the Port of Piraeus, a major component of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.

China’s ambassador to Greece, Fang Qiu, responded by accusing the United States of having “an outdated and a harmful mentality” and “a hegemonic mindset.”

Reacting to Guilfoyle’s impending departure, Dimitris Mantzos, foreign affairs spokesperson for Greece’s opposition PASOK party, said the development raised serious concerns and unanswered questions.

He questioned whether Greek officials would demand an explanation or “content themselves with watching the country serve as a ‘theater’” for outside interests.