The White House announced on Tuesday its decision to part ways with its top diplomatic representative in Greece. "We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign. She has been a valuable member of the team, and we wish her the best," said Donald Trump's new spokesperson, Katie Zacharia, in her debut at noon.
It is not uncommon for a government to dismiss an ambassador, especially when it is a political appointment. Not even when it comes after a sensational accumulation of personal and professional scandals, following recent revelations by The Wall Street Journal that she had questionable relationships with various lobbyists, had threatened the Greek government, boasted that the United States could manipulate Europe at will (citing the fall of the Romanian government as an example), or had asked a wealthy Trump donor, before her confirmation hearing last year, to pay her $100,000 in American Express expenses in exchange for promises of access to the president's circle. Promises that never materialized and led to her downfall.
In other times, perhaps, but in the current era, such relationships and revelations are not necessarily grounds for dismissal. On the contrary. But everything surrounding Kimberly Guilfoyle is indeed atypical. Starting with the fact that she was appointed as compensation after breaking up with her fiancé, Donald Trump Jr. With whom she had started a relationship 15 years after divorcing Gavin Newsom, now the Democratic governor of California and a presidential hopeful.
"The allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, reputation, and integrity. I have dedicated my professional life to fighting for justice, standing up for what is right, and protecting the values that make America exceptional. I will not allow false accusations to define my decades of public service. My gratitude and respect for President Trump and Secretary Rubio remain unwavering. I am proud of what we accomplished together, and I will always be a loyal supporter of President Trump and his mission to Make America Great Again. Although my time as ambassador has come to an end, my commitment to President Trump, the "America First" movement, and the country I love will never cease," she responded in a message acknowledging her departure.
Kimberly Guilfoyle (San Francisco, 1969) began her career as a teacher and lawyer, eventually becoming a prosecutor in San Francisco. She gained local notoriety there, and her marriage to then-Mayor Gavin Newsom (2001-2006) made her even more well-known. Her foray into media came when she moved to New York in January 2004 to host the show Both Sides on Court TV. She later transitioned to become a legal and political commentator and eventually a host on Fox News, co-hosting the popular showThe Five.
In 2018, already a Trump supporter during his first term and now president again, she fully engaged in political activities, becoming a key figure in fundraising and campaign events. Her relationship with Donald Trump Jr. also opened doors to the family and inner circle, which she took full advantage of, even after the relationship ended. In December 2024, Trump nominated her as ambassador to Greece, and the Senate confirmed her by a vote of 51 to 47, as part of a package of 48 confirmations approved with a Republican rule change.
The president is no stranger to scandals and conflicts within his family. His son-in-law is his chief negotiator for the Middle East and Russia, with clear commercial interests in various Gulf funds and Israeli companies. His friend Steve Witkoff, likewise, has ties, with the added complication that the businessman's son is also involved with Trump's children in cryptocurrency ventures with opaque investments. The rest of his offspring have also earned hundreds of millions for the family holding company in less than two years through operations that in any other era would have sparked scandals and federal investigations.
But Guilfoyle's situation had become indefensible. Despite today's statements, she was not a significant asset to the team, and the president himself had acknowledged on Monday that he was "not happy at all" with what had been revealed. "Kimberly Guilfoyle was not a member of my family. I guess she dated my son a long time ago, but I didn't like what I read. She was doing a good job, but we didn't like what we read," Trump said on Tuesday after her resignation.
The press has documents, testimonies, recordings, and many public photos and videos showing how the soon-to-be former ambassador has spent a significant amount of time this year and a half attending luxury galas and fashion shows throughout Europe, often accompanied by her personal stylist, posing on photocalls and red carpets.