From the glamorous receptions and the front tables of Athenian high society to the political awkwardness in Washington, Kimberly Guilfoyle’s diplomatic tenure in Athens has come to an end.
Donald Trump, through the White House, requested her resignation, a development that was expected and comes after a series of reports that placed the former head of the U.S. diplomatic mission at the center of allegations regarding her behavior and contacts .
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The case concerns not only the future of an individual who was closely associated with the U.S. Embassy’s high-profile public presence. It also affects the image of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Athens, at a time when energy, infrastructure, and strategic cooperation between the two countries are high on the agenda.
The Background to Kimberly Guilfoyle’s Departure
Kimberly Gilfoyle knew that her tenure in the position was now uncertain; however, she did not expect events to unfold so quickly. After all, the head of U.S. diplomacy, Marco Rubio, when asked about the relevant reports, had expressed his support for her.
Donald Trump’s statements, however, that he was considering her dismissal had already caused a stir, with speculation about what would happen next mounting.
Initially, the U.S. Embassy remained tight-lipped, while journalists seeking answers were referred to the White House.
Eventually, White House spokesperson Katie Zakaria announced Donald Trump’s decision to ask Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign from her position as U.S. ambassador to Greece.
In her first public response, Kimberly Gilfoyle rejected the allegations against her and described her tenure as U.S. ambassador to Greece as “the honor of a lifetime.”
She also made sure to point out that during her tenure she worked to advance the Trump agenda, with the goal of strengthening the strategic alliance between Greece – United States and achieving tangible results for the benefit of the American people.
Athens: “It is not a decision of the Greek government”
Athens was monitoring developments with particular attention. Before Kimberly Guilfoyle herself officially commented on her dismissal, officials noted that the decision did not rest with the Greek government. They also emphasized the cooperation between the two countries, citing Marco Rubio’s visit to the Greek capital as confirmation of the strength of bilateral relations. At the same time, they stressed that, as of that moment, no relevant request had been submitted to the Greek authorities.
“No comment” was the response from diplomatic sources when the U.S. ambassador to Greece officially stepped down.
As they pointed out, this is an internal matter for the U.S. administration, regarding which an official statement is expected from the U.S. side.
Until then, Athens has decided not to comment further on the developments, pending official announcements from Washington.
The report that opened Pandora’s box
Kimberly Gilfoyle’s dismissal came after a series of reports in the Wall Street Journal and other U.S. media outlets regarding the promotion of business interests, paid luxury trips, as well as an incident in which, in the presence of Greek and American officials, while referring to the political crisis in Romania, she said that the U.S. could provoke similar developments wherever it wished, even in Greece.
The straw that broke the camel’s back, however, was a Wall Street Journal report claiming that Giffords had asked Eric Dinders, a donor to Donald Trump’s campaigns, for $100,000 to pay off her credit card. This incident reportedly took place a few days before the hearing to confirm her appointment in Greece.
The case raised questions about the nature of the financial transactions. Once again, her lawyers denied the allegations, arguing that Mr. Dillers still owes Ms. Gilfoil approximately $150,000 for speaking engagements and consulting services prior to her taking office. Dillers went on the counterattack, announcing that he would file a defamation lawsuit against her.
The protocols that were never followed
Meanwhile, media reports cited complaints from U.S. Embassy employees about a tense work environment. However, what caught the attention of journalistic circles was how Ms. Gilfoyle, from the very first day she took office, did not follow the protocols as her predecessors had. A prime example is the fact that she never called a meeting with the relevant diplomatic correspondents, as is customary. Instead, photos appeared on social media of casual encounters at social events with people in the field who happened to be guests.
However, Ms. Gilfoyle had become a topic of discussion in Greece much earlier—and not because of her engagement to Trump’s son.
During the economic crisis, when the country was facing its most severe challenge in decades, she had sparked outrage with her particularly offensive remarks about Greeks. In 2015, in the context of developments surrounding the Greek bailout program, she had called the Greeks “freeloaders,” arguing that they should face consequences for rejecting the European Union’s bailout package.
In the same vein, she had accused the Greeks of retiring too early, while also directing her criticism at politicians.
Even more scathing was the analogy she used, comparing the behavior of the Greeks to that of an untrained dog. In fact, she remarked that there was no punishment comparable to that which would be imposed on a dog that soils the carpet.
From receptions to energy agreements
Her public image had been built through a strong social presence, with heavy doses of lifestyle content and frequent appearances that drew the spotlight. The paparazzi documented nearly every move she made, constantly fueling interest in her fashion choices and the expensive restaurants she frequented. In November 2025, shortly before she officially took office, singer Konstantinos Argyros organized a private event at an entertainment venue—or, as everyone knows them, a bouzouki club—attended by politicians and businesspeople.The invitations were very specific.
In July 2026, the reception celebrating the 250th anniversary of U.S. Independence Day at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation drew approximately 3,000 guests, with most wondering how much this “country-themed” evening cost. The event highlighted her ambition to link public relations with the promotion of American priorities.
Beyond the social aspect, however, her tenure was marked by energy cooperation, the promotion of liquefied natural gas, and the planning of the Vertical Corridor. In November 2025, a joint Greek-American declaration on economic security was signed, emphasizing the economy, energy, and technology.
The Day After and Diplomatic Protocol
The U.S. Embassy will not be left without a head, as Chargé d’Affaires Josh Hack is in place, who has served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Director of the Office of Southern European Affairs, covering Cyprus, Greece, Malta, and Turkey.
The question that arises is who will be the successor, given that the list circulating in the White House corridors is growing longer as the hours pass, rather than getting shorter.
The selection of a new ambassador is the responsibility of the U.S. side. President Trump is called upon to nominate a candidate, followed by the standard Senate confirmation process. The Greek government’s consent is also required for the ambassador’s posting in Athens, while the official assumption of duties is contingent upon the presentation of credentials to the President of the Republic.
The Greek government, for its part, is attempting to separate this matter from the strategic relationship between the two countries. The question is whether this change in leadership will be limited to a diplomatic reshuffle or whether it will affect the way joint initiatives are pursued.
Source: cnn.gr
