White House Forces Out Ambassador Guilfoyle Over $100,000 'Pay-to-Play' Allegations

Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned as U.S. ambassador to Greece on October 13, 2026, after the White House asked her to step down, press secretary Katie Zacharia confirmed. President Trump said he was "not happy" and had been "looking at" firing her after the Wall Street Journal reported she asked a Trump donor, businessman Eric Deters, to wire $100,000 to cover a credit-card bill before her 2025 Senate confirmation, allegedly offering access to officials including the attorney general in return. Deters did not make the payment. The Journal also reported Guilfoyle discussed Greek businessmen covering her private jet travel and luxury hospitality, and that she let a Greek company's lobbyist into private diplomatic meetings.

Using an ambassadorship to solicit payments from a political donor, if proven, would be a serious ethics violation for a Senate-confirmed official representing the United States abroad.

Guilfoyle denied the allegations and said she would "rigorously defend" her name; her lawyer disputed the authenticity of the texts the Journal cited. The State Department's inspector general is reviewing the matter, and Rep. Gregory Meeks has asked that Guilfoyle testify under oath.