President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are weighing whether to fire Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece, after a string of reports alleging improper and possibly illegal conduct. The Associated Press reported the deliberations on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, citing a senior U.S. official who spoke anonymously. A decision is expected this week, after the Monday Columbus Day holiday. No dismissal had been announced in the reports reviewed for this article.
Trump and Rubio are considering removing the ambassador after Wall Street Journal reports, including one about a request to a donor to pay a $100,000 credit card bill. Her lawyer denies wrongdoing and disputes the messages. The State Department inspector general is reportedly looking into the claims. Nothing has been proven, and no firing has been confirmed.
Trump and Rubio Weigh Next Steps on Kimberly Guilfoyle
According to the AP, the official said both men are deeply angry about the reported conduct. Rubio was described as especially upset. He had traveled to Athens only days earlier, and Guilfoyle took part in most, if not all, of his events. She also welcomed him at the airport with an enthusiastic hug while the allegations were already circulating.
The account rests on an unnamed source discussing internal talks. CNN also reported, citing a person familiar with the matter, that Trump is weighing a dismissal and is expected to decide soon. Neither the White House nor the State Department has publicly confirmed a decision.
What the Wall Street Journal Reported
The controversy began in late September, when the Journal published its first report on the ambassador. Since then, the paper has added several more stories, each describing a different set of claims.
The $100,000 credit card request
The most striking report involved text messages between Guilfoyle and Eric Deters, a longtime Trump supporter and donor. CBS News reported that the messages are dated July 3, 2025, just days before her Senate confirmation hearing. In them, she allegedly asked him to wire $100,000 to her American Express account and said the transfer would not be visible anywhere else.
Deters says the request came with a promise of access to senior administration officials. He told NBC News it was a quid pro quo, according to NBC News. He did not make the payment. The Hill noted that he separately told her he had already paid her $300,000 over the years and wanted to see results.
Guilfoyle’s attorney, Jesse Binnall, disputes that the messages are authentic but has not given specifics. He also said Deters legitimately owed her money tied to speaking engagements. CBS News, citing sources, reported that White House officials were told the texts were real. These competing accounts have not been resolved publicly.
Claims about Greek business interests
The first Journal story made different claims. It said Guilfoyle told guests at a reception that the United States could undermine the Greek government if it wished. It also said she promoted the interests of a Greek construction and energy company and let that company’s lobbyist sit in on private diplomatic meetings.
Fox News reported that Greece’s foreign minister saw no need to summon the ambassador. He said the country’s energy minister had denied that any threat was made.
Later stories described Guilfoyle as angry over not being invited to a Greek-themed event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, and as boasting about luxury travel to France with energy executives. The British tabloid Daily Mail separately reported that she alienated embassy staff and tested the limits of proper conduct for a top U.S. envoy. That report has not been independently verified here.
How the Ambassador’s Side Has Responded
Guilfoyle has not addressed the reports directly. Her lawyer has said she did nothing wrong, and the U.S. Embassy in Athens has quietly signaled support for her, the AP said. Binnall also told the Daily Mail that any suggestion of wrongdoing is unsupported, as Fox News relayed.
It is important to separate allegations from findings. The claims come from news reports, text messages supplied by a donor, and anonymous sources. None has been tested in a formal proceeding.
Inspector General Review and Congressional Pressure
A second U.S. official told the AP that the State Department’s inspector general is looking into the allegations. That official could not say whether a formal probe had started. Inspectors general often open informal inquiries that never become full investigations. The State Department declined to comment.
Fox News, citing the Daily Mail, said the inspector general’s office had opened an investigation covering her treatment of staff, private travel, gifts and ties to business interests. The office neither confirmed nor denied it.
On Capitol Hill, Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Rep. Robert Garcia of California, all Democrats, have called for an investigation. NBC News said Meeks had written to Rubio asking for more information.
What Rubio and Vance Have Said Publicly
While in Athens, Rubio first defended the ambassador, saying she had been a strong representative there. After another report appeared, he told journalists on Thursday that he did not know whether the claims were true and would not respond to what he could not confirm.
Vice President JD Vance took a similar line on Friday, according to Fox News. He urged people to wait for the facts but said anyone who did something wrong should face consequences.
Background on Kimberly Guilfoyle
Trump announced Kimberly Guilfoyle as his pick for the Athens post in December 2024. She is a former Fox News host and California prosecutor who was once engaged to Donald Trump Jr. Trump called her a close friend and ally when he announced the nomination, CBS News reported at the time.
What Happens Next
The next few days should show whether Trump and Rubio keep her in place or remove her. An inspector general review, if it grows into a formal investigation, could take much longer. Until then, readers should treat the claims as unproven and the firing as a possibility, not a fact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Kimberly Guilfoyle been fired?
No firing had been confirmed in the reports reviewed. A senior U.S. official told the AP that Trump and Rubio are considering action and would likely decide this week.
What is Kimberly Guilfoyle accused of?
Reports allege she asked a donor to pay a $100,000 credit card bill in return for access, favored a Greek energy company, and made a remark about undermining the Greek government. These are allegations, not findings.
How has Kimberly Guilfoyle responded?
She has not addressed the claims herself. Her lawyer, Jesse Binnall, says she did nothing wrong and disputes the authenticity of the text messages.
Is there an investigation?
A U.S. official told the AP the State Department inspector general is looking into the allegations, though it is unclear whether a formal probe began. The department declined to comment.
Who has called for scrutiny?
Democrats Gregory Meeks, Jeanne Shaheen and Robert Garcia have asked for an investigation, according to the AP.
