President Donald Trump is reportedly considering dismissing Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece, following revelations that she sought financial assistance from a donor to cover personal expenses prior to her confirmation hearing. The controversy emerged after text messages surfaced showing Guilfoyle requesting that Trump donor Eric Deters wire $100,000 to her American Express account, an arrangement she suggested would be difficult to trace.
Deters, a former Kentucky congressional candidate, had previously paid Guilfoyle for speaking engagements but declined to pay her credit card bill. He also made substantial payments to Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, totaling $300,000. Guilfoyle’s legal representative, Jesse Binnall, has contested the authenticity of the messages, asserting that Guilfoyle was owed reimbursement for travel expenses related to speaking events she supported before her nomination. Deters, however, has denied owing any balance to Guilfoyle.
Further scrutiny intensified after reports surfaced regarding audio in which Guilfoyle allegedly bragged about Greek business magnates covering the costs of her flight to Paris and luxury hotel accommodations. These claims have prompted the State Department Office of the Inspector General to launch an investigation into whether Guilfoyle accepted improper gifts or favors from private individuals.
When questioned about the situation on Monday, President Trump indicated that he is "looking at" the possibility of firing Guilfoyle and expressed dissatisfaction with her conduct, stating, “we’re not happy.” Trump administration officials reportedly spent the weekend debating whether to retain her in the ambassadorial role. Some considered requesting that she step down voluntarily to avoid the political fallout associated with officially removing her.
Guilfoyle, who was previously engaged to Donald Trump Jr., has yet to comment on the controversy; her spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. Meanwhile, members of Congress have reacted swiftly to the allegations. Representative Don Beyer of Virginia called for Guilfoyle’s immediate dismissal and suggested legal prosecution if laws were broken. California Representative Robert Garcia, ranking Democrat on the House oversight committee, highlighted concerns about potential public corruption and national security risks in a letter to Guilfoyle. Garcia requested that she submit financial records and correspondences with government officials related to the matter.
The investigation and internal deliberations within the Trump administration continue as officials weigh the implications of the allegations against the ambassador and potential next steps.