Her departure follows allegations involving financial dealings, political influence, and private energy interests, drawing scrutiny in Washington and criticism in Athens.
Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned Tuesday as U.S. ambassador to Greece after the White House asked her to step down amid allegations involving a Republican donor, a Greek energy lobbyist, and remarks she reportedly made about political change in Greece.
Her departure came six days after Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Athens for talks on defense, energy, and economic cooperation.
Guilfoyle, the first woman to serve as U.S. ambassador to Greece, took up her post in November 2025. A former California prosecutor, Fox News personality, and longtime political ally of President Donald Trump, she had made energy cooperation and closer economic ties central to her work in Athens.
White House press secretary Katie Zacharia confirmed the request for her resignation on October 13. Trump had expressed dissatisfaction with reports about Guilfoyle’s conduct the previous day.
“She went to Greece. She was doing a good job, but we didn’t like what we were reading,” Trump told reporters Tuesday.
Guilfoyle announced her resignation shortly afterward. She thanked Trump and Rubio for the opportunity to serve, rejected the accusations, and pledged to defend her reputation.
Allegations Behind the Resignation
The controversy grew out of a series of investigations by The Wall Street Journal into Guilfoyle’s activities before and during her ambassadorship.
In an October 8 report, the newspaper alleged that Guilfoyle sought $100,000 from Republican donor Eric Deters shortly before her July 2025 Senate confirmation hearing.
According to messages the Journal reviewed, she asked Deters to help pay a personal American Express bill and offered access to Trump administration officials who might help him with tax and legal matters.
Deters did not make the payment.
Guilfoyle’s attorneys challenged the authenticity of the messages and denied that she had offered political access in exchange for money. They maintained that the request concerned unpaid speaking engagements and public appearances arranged before her nomination.
Greek-American businessman John Catsimatidis also defended Guilfoyle. Speaking to ERT, he said he had contacted her and that she maintained Eric Deters owed her $150,000 for previous work. Catsimatidis described her removal as politically motivated, pointing to its timing less than three weeks before the November 3 U.S. midterm elections. He offered no evidence linking the decision to the elections.
Separate reporting raised questions about private jet travel and luxury hospitality provided by wealthy business figures. Her attorneys denied wrongdoing, saying she had sought and followed State Department guidance on private travel.
On October 10, Representative Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, requested an investigation by the State Department’s Office of Inspector General. In a separate letter, he asked Guilfoyle to appear before committee members and answer questions under oath.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Representative Robert Garcia, both senior Democrats on congressional oversight committees, have also called for scrutiny of the allegations.
The Associated Press reported that the State Department’s inspector general was examining the matter, although an American official could not confirm whether a formal investigation had begun. The Washington Post separately reported that an investigation had opened.
As of October 14, no official findings of wrongdoing had been publicly established.
Reported Remarks About Greece’s Government
In a September 25 investigation, The Wall Street Journal reported that Guilfoyle suggested during a March dinner with Greek and American officials that the United States could bring about political change in other countries, including Greece.
The reported exchange followed a discussion about political developments in Romania. According to the Journal, Greek Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou challenged the suggestion that Washington could determine the fate of Greece’s elected government.
Guilfoyle’s attorney disputed the newspaper’s account. Papastavrou subsequently told Parliament that Greece had not been threatened or pressured, adding that neither would be tolerated. Other Greek officials also denied that the government had been threatened.
On October 9, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis rejected calls to summon Guilfoyle to the Foreign Ministry.
Responding to a parliamentary question from lawmaker Sia Anagnostopoulou, Gerapetritis said there was no reason to summon the ambassador because Papastavrou had already denied that any threat occurred.
In an October 1 letter to Rubio, Meeks raised concerns about the implications of Guilfoyle’s alleged comments for the sovereignty of a NATO ally. He also sought explanations about her relationships with private business representatives.
Following Guilfoyle’s resignation, PASOK parliamentary spokesperson Dimitris Mantzos renewed questions about whether Greek officials had sought explanations concerning the reported incidents.
The Greek government rejected suggestions that it had failed to protect the country’s interests.
Speaking on October 14, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said Guilfoyle’s resignation was Washington’s decision and that Athens had no involvement. According to ERT, he rejected opposition demands that Greece seek explanations from the United States and denied any connection between the Greek government and the alleged misconduct.
Marinakis said he could not determine whether the published allegations were true. He maintained that bilateral energy projects would continue regardless of who served as ambassador.
Energy Diplomacy and Private Business Interests
The Wall Street Journal also examined Guilfoyle’s relationship with Christos Marafatsos, a registered lobbyist for Greek construction and energy company Aktor Group.
Marafatsos accompanied Guilfoyle to official diplomatic engagements, including meetings with senior foreign officials, according to the newspaper. Some participants reportedly did not know he was a paid lobbyist, while others mistook him for a member of the ambassador’s staff.
In his October 1 letter, Meeks cited federal lobbying records showing that Aktor had paid Marafatsos $160,000 through June 2026 to establish contacts with the State Department, Department of Energy, and White House.
Meeks asked whether the lobbyist had received inappropriate access through Guilfoyle’s diplomatic activities and whether the ambassador had improperly promoted Aktor’s commercial interests.
Guilfoyle and Aktor have denied improper conduct.
Aktor has a direct commercial interest in expanding American liquefied natural gas exports through Greece.
The company holds a 60% stake in Atlantic SEE LNG Trade, a joint venture with DEPA Commercial, which owns the remaining 40%.
In June, the venture and American exporter Venture Global announced an expansion of their long-term LNG agreement.
The agreement calls for Atlantic SEE LNG Trade to purchase at least one million metric tons of American LNG annually over 20 years, beginning in 2030. That doubles the previous minimum commitment.
The venture aims to transport American gas through Greece to European markets using the Vertical Gas Corridor, an initiative supported by Washington and Athens.
Guilfoyle promoted American LNG exports and efforts to reduce Europe’s reliance on Russian energy during her ambassadorship.
In additional reporting published October 14, The Wall Street Journal described uncertainty surrounding some proposed regional gas sales.
Albania’s Energy Ministry told the newspaper it was awaiting a feasibility study, while Ukraine’s Naftogaz said it had discontinued negotiations. Romania’s Transgaz said its memorandum of understanding had expired.
Aktor’s lawyers disputed suggestions that the arrangements lacked substance. They described an agreement involving Albania as binding and said discussions with other potential customers continued.
Those prospective regional sales are separate from the long-term Venture Global supply agreement. The existence of the LNG contracts and lobbying relationships does not itself establish misconduct.
Athens Adjusts to a Change in Washington’s Representation
On October 7, Rubio and Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis presided over the sixth U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue in Athens.
Their joint statement announced $4 billion in Foreign Military Sales supporting Greece’s long-term defense plans. Some elements of the defense package still require procedural steps before becoming finalized contracts.
The two governments also emphasized the Vertical Gas Corridor and cooperation on hydrocarbon exploration.
Rubio had publicly praised Guilfoyle during his visit, calling her a strong ambassador. A day later, he declined to assess the allegations when questioned by reporters, saying he could not confirm whether they were true.
Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis told ERT that Greek-American relations remained at a high point and that recent progress would continue.
Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis acknowledged a more immediate consequence.
Speaking to Antenna television on October 14, Georgiadis said Guilfoyle’s replacement would not have her direct access to the White House, even though he was an experienced diplomat.
According to the Associated Press, Deputy Chief of Mission Josh Huck is taking over responsibilities at the U.S. Embassy in Athens.
Huck previously served in senior State Department positions involving Southern Europe and the Caucasus.
No permanent successor has been announced. A new ambassador would require nomination by the president and confirmation by the U.S. Senate.