Donald Trump Distances Himself From Kimberly Guilfoyle After Claims 'Didn't Like What We Were Reading'

President Donald Trump said the White House asked US ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign after officials 'didn't like what we were reading' about allegations she sought $100,000 (£75,800) from a Trump donor.

Speaking outside the White House on Tuesday, 13 October, Trump publicly distanced himself from Guilfoyle, who was previously engaged to his son Donald Trump Jr., and said he had not spoken to her since the claims emerged. Guilfoyle denies any wrongdoing.

The departure followed allegations that Guilfoyle sought $100,000 (€89,900 and £75,800) from a Trump donor to help settle a credit card bill. The White House requested her resignation before she confirmed on X that she would step down. Trump's subsequent remarks did not establish whether any accusation had been substantiated.

Trump Shrugs off Family Link After Ambassador Quits

'No, she wasn't a member of my family,' Trump told reporters who asked about Guilfoyle's former engagement to Donald Trump Jr.

Trump also discussed her performance in Greece. 'She went to Greece. She was doing a good job, but we didn't like what we were reading,' he said. Asked whether he had spoken directly to Guilfoyle, he said he had not.

Earlier that day, newly appointed White House press secretary Katie Zacharia announced the decision at her first briefing. 'We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign,' she said, praising her service and wishing her well.

Guilfoyle confirmed her departure less than two hours later. In her X statement, she called serving in Greece an honour and thanked Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the opportunity. She also reaffirmed her support for the president.

Guilfoyle and Trump Jr. began dating in 2018 and later became engaged. They separated in 2024, when Trump announced his intention to nominate her for the diplomatic position. She formally took up the Athens posting in November 2025 after presenting her credentials.

A day before her resignation, Trump had said he was considering whether to remove Guilfoyle. He did not subsequently identify which allegations, if any, his administration had independently verified.

Money Request Claim at Heart of Resignation Row

The Wall Street Journal reported that Guilfoyle allegedly requested $100,000 from Trump donor Eric Deters before her July 2025 Senate confirmation hearing. According to the newspaper, purported messages concerned paying an American Express bill and offering assistance through contacts in the Trump administration.

Deters separately told CBS News that he considered the proposed arrangement 'quid pro quo'. He said he did not make the payment. Guilfoyle's legal representatives have challenged the authenticity of the purported messages and denied improper conduct.

Other Journal reports raised allegations concerning gifts, private aircraft travel, relationships with Greek business interests and an alleged threat towards a Greek official. These remain disputed accusations, not proven findings of misconduct.

Lawyers David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall responded in a statement released on Sunday, 11 October. They said payments sought by Guilfoyle concerned outstanding fees for public appearances and speaking engagements arranged before her ambassadorial nomination.

The lawyers also rejected allegations of improper private flights. They maintained that she had sought and followed State Department guidance and complied with departmental travel regulations.

Guilfoyle Vows To Fight Claims as Scrutiny Grows

In her resignation statement, Guilfoyle rejected the accusations directly. 'These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity,' she wrote.

She added that she would not allow what she described as false accusations to define her decades of public service.

A US official told The Associated Press that the State Department's inspector general was examining the allegations. The official could not confirm that a formal investigation had begun, and the department declined to comment on a possible inquiry.

The allegations have also drawn concern in Congress. Republican Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso described the reports as 'very troubling' in an 11 October CBS interview. He said the public deserved to know the findings of any review.

Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Rep. Gregory Meeks have also called for an investigation into Guilfoyle's conduct. During her time in Athens, Guilfoyle promoted US energy interests in south-eastern Europe. Some of the reported allegations involved her connections to businesses operating in that sector.