What You Need to Know About the Controversies Surrounding Kimberly Guilfoyle

Reports indicate the Trump administration is considering removing the ambassador to Greece following allegations of inappropriate conduct.

The controversy began in late September, when the Wall Street Journal began publishing a series of reports about Guilfoyle's questionable activities, including promoting a Greek construction company, bragging about luxury trips paid for by businessmen, and asking a Trump donor to pay off a $100,000 credit card bill in exchange for the Trump administration's attention.

The reports came around Rubio's several-day trip to Europe last week, when the secretary of state touted the achievements of the Trump administration and Guilfoyle attended most of his events in Athens. Asked about the Oct. 8 reports, Rubio initially seemed incredulous, telling reporters, "I don't even know if what you're reporting is true. You guys kind of think that because a source told you something and you reported it, it's gospel. It's not gospel. It's not gospel for me."

As reports emerged, Trump did not defend Guilfoyle, who had an affair with his eldest son between 2018 and 2024. "I just heard about it — very bad," the president told reporters on Friday. "I mean, I don't know. He's an ambassador. I've only heard a little about it. I don't know much. He's always been very nice."

"If something bad has happened, people have to bear the consequences," said Vice President Jay.

Trump announced that he would nominate Guilfoyle as US ambassador to Greece in December 2024, just ahead of the start of his second term, amid reports of his split from Trump Jr. She was sworn in in September 2025, becoming the first woman in the role.

In addition to Guilfoyle's legal and media activities, he also helped fundraise for Trump's 2020 presidential campaign. Guilfoyle also witnessed the events leading up to the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol and met with the House Committee investigating the 2022 riots.

From 2001 to 2006, Guilfoyle was married to Gavin Newsom, then a San Francisco supervisor and later mayor and now governor of California, widely considered a Democratic contender for the presidency.

On September 25, the Journal published a report on Guilfoyle promoting Greek construction company Aktor Group and its lobbyist, Christos Marafatsos, attending diplomatic meetings across the Balkans. Guilfoyle reportedly encouraged governments from Bulgaria to Albania to cooperate with the Actor group.

The September 25 report also detailed Guilfoyle's alleged treatment of Greek government officials. According to the Journal, Guilfoyle told attendees at a dinner in March, including the nation's energy secretary, that the United States could influence political change in other countries, which the secretary denied.

According to the Journal, Guilfoyle's attorney disagreed with how the dinner unfolded. The Greek government also rejected this threat and added: Such a thing will never be tolerated. Marafatsos' lawyer also challenged the Journal's report. Lawyers for Aktor Group denied claims that Guilfoyle acted improperly in promoting his business interests.

Then, on Oct. 7, the Journal reported, citing Guilfoyle's text messages before the July 2025 Senate confirmation hearing, that he had asked Eric Dieters, a businessman and Trump donor, to pay $100,000 to settle his American Express credit card debt in exchange for access to the Trump administration.

Dieters, who did not pay Guilfoyle, told the newspaper that he had transactions with Guilfoyle that date back to 2020. The Journal reported that Deters promised Guilfoyle $1 million if he managed to help her make connections with the Trump administration, and that he allegedly offered to use his connections as a former candidate for Trump Jr. Goyle Foyle has also asked Deters to avoid creating a paper trail of its transactions.

Guilfoyle's attorney, Jesse Binal, told the Journal that the ambassador disputes the authenticity of the messages. He also said Guilfoyle was paid for events prior to his nomination, and the ambassador "owed the balance for traveling and supporting these patriotic events."

Three days later, the Journal published another report, this time about how Guilfoyle had leaked luxury trips financed by several businessmen via an audio recording. In the recording, he reportedly acknowledged flying a private jet to the January 2026 World Economic Forum with Aktor Group CEO Alexandros Exarchou. Goyle Foyle also said in the recording that he plans to travel with a Greek shipping giant, which is said to have paid for his accommodation.

A spokesman for the US Embassy in Athens responded to the Journal's latest report, saying Guilfoyle had "faithfully followed the State Department's ethical and gift reporting guidelines."

Guilfoyle and the allegations surrounding him add to the problems as the Trump administration heads into November's midterm elections, where Republicans hope to defend their majority in Congress.

Some Democrats have called for his removal. In a Sept. 30 letter to Rubio, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D, N.Y.), the top Democrat on the House Foreign Relations Committee, sought answers about the allegations. Meeks said in a statement that reports of Guilfoyle's actions were "deeply troubling and suggest a potentially corrupting influence on U.S. foreign policy," adding that if true, he should be "removed from office."

Rep. Robert Garcia (D, Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, wrote to Guilfoyle on Oct. 8 that his reported behavior with Deters "raises public corruption and national security concerns." Garcia asked him to hand over financial records and communications related to the controversy.

Even some top Republicans are concerned: Senate Majority Leader John Barrasso of Wyoming called the Guilfoyle reports "deeply troubling."

"I'm sure there will be an investigation," Barrasso told CBS News Sunday. "I know the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will have oversight and look into this as well. But I think the public has a right to know what was found, and it's a little disturbing."