The White House has formally asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign as US Ambassador to Greece, a day after President Donald Trump said he was considering removing her over reports of improper conduct. The request was confirmed on Tuesday, 14 October 2025 by new White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia at her first briefing.

What the White House Said

'We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign. She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well,' Zacharia told reporters. However, she did not provide a timeline for Guilfoyle's departure, name a potential successor, or confirm whether Guilfoyle had agreed to step down.

When asked whether Trump had personally spoken with Guilfoyle, Zacharia deflected. 'The President will be back on Thursday, and that's what I will answer. I'll leave it there,' she said, adding that Trump 'will answer those questions out in Marine One' as he departed for Alaska.

The Allegations Against Guilfoyle

The pressure to resign follows a report, first published by The Wall Street Journal, of text messages between Guilfoyle and businessman Eric Deters. According to CBS News, Guilfoyle allegedly asked Deters for USD 100,000 to pay her American Express bill in July 2025, while she was still awaiting Senate confirmation as ambassador. Deters described the request as 'pay to play.'

CBS News further reported that White House officials had been told the messages were authentic. Guilfoyle has denied any wrongdoing. Her representatives stated on 12 October 2025 that Deters owed her approximately USD 150,000 for speeches and consulting work completed well before her ambassadorship, according to a BBC report.

Political and Diplomatic Fallout

On Monday, Trump told reporters at the White House, 'Well, we're looking at it. We're not happy' — a rare public rebuke of a sitting ambassador he had personally appointed. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also reportedly unhappy with her conduct.

Democrats on the Senate and House foreign affairs committees have called on the State Department to open a formal investigation into Guilfoyle's conduct during her tenure in Athens. Zacharia did not say who would lead the US embassy in Greece in the interim.

Who Is Kimberly Guilfoyle

Guilfoyle, 57, is a former Fox News host and the former fiancée of Donald Trump Jr. She was previously married to California Governor Gavin Newsom. Trump named her Ambassador to Greece in December 2024, approximately a month before he returned to the White House for his second term.

What Happens Next

It remains unclear whether Guilfoyle will formally accept the resignation request or contest it. A State Department investigation, if launched, could probe the alleged financial interactions during her confirmation period. The episode is a rare and public fracture within the Trump administration's diplomatic corps, and its resolution — or escalation — is likely to draw continued scrutiny from both parties in Congress.