Katie Zacharia made waves during her very first White House press briefing on Tuesday afternoon. The new press secretary brought major staffing news to the lectern. She announced that President Donald Trump has officially asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign. Guilfoyle has served as the United States ambassador to Greece over the past year. “We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign,” Zacharia plainly told reporters. She added that Guilfoyle had been a wonderful asset to the administration’s team. Zacharia then wished the diplomat well before quickly concluding the topic.
In Washington parlance, being asked to resign is essentially an outright firing. The formal request follows intense public scrutiny regarding Guilfoyle’s financial dealings. Reports recently emerged alleging that Guilfoyle asked a political donor for $100,000. The donor claimed the money was meant to cover her personal American Express credit card bill. In exchange, she allegedly offered access to high-ranking federal officials. Guilfoyle and her legal team have vigorously denied any wrongdoing in the matter. Nevertheless, the State Department Inspector General has launched an active investigation into her conduct.
Zacharia’s debut appearance behind the lectern was remarkably brief. She answered only three questions from reporters before exiting the James S. Brady room. The short briefing surprised reporters who anticipated an extended back-and-forth session. Zacharia stepped into the high-profile role following Karoline Leavitt’s recent departure. Before her appointment, Zacharia worked as a senior media adviser for Trump’s operation. She also built a recognizable profile as an attorney and conservative television commentator. Her composed delivery showed she can handle sensitive staffing announcements under pressure.
Guilfoyle has held prominent roles in Trump’s political movement for several years. She was once engaged to Donald Trump Jr., though they parted ways last year. Trump subsequently nominated her to lead the American embassy in Athens. Greek diplomats initially welcomed her close personal relationship with the American president. However, reports of severe internal friction and lavish conduct quickly emerged. Trump publicly signaled on Monday that he was unhappy with the unfolding situation. He openly told reporters that he was strongly considering firing the ambassador.
Tuesday’s announcement confirmed that the White House decided to take formal action. By asking for her resignation, the administration is effectively ending her diplomatic tenure. Guilfoyle has not yet publicly commented on the White House request. The administration has also not named a replacement to head the embassy in Greece. Meanwhile, members of Congress are demanding full transparency about the allegations. Lawmakers want to review all documents connected to the alleged donor payments. Zacharia will certainly face more questions as this diplomatic scandal continues to unfold.
Sources
- CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kimberly-guilfoyle-resign-ambassador-greece/
- The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/10/13/kimberly-guilfoyle-asked-resign-by-white-house-new-press-secretary-says/
- Time: https://time.com/article/2026/10/13/trump-has-asked-guilfoyle-to-resign-says-new-white-house-press-secretary/
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