By Bosphorus News Geopolitics Desk
On October 14, 2026, the US Embassy in Athens was preparing for a leadership change after the White House asked Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign on October 13. The request followed congressional scrutiny of her contacts with a Greek lobbyist and a dispute involving a political donor.
White House press secretary Katie Zacharia confirmed the request on October 13. "We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign," she told reporters.
President Donald Trump said Guilfoyle "was doing a good job, but we didn't like what we were reading."
Guilfoyle acknowledged that her tenure was ending, called the allegations against her "false" and said she would defend her reputation.
Athens awaits a successor
Josh Huck, the embassy's deputy chief of mission, is expected to take charge temporarily, according to Kathimerini. Washington has not named a replacement.
Kathimerini reported on October 14 that procedural steps remain before contracts can be signed for the roughly $4 billion defense package announced during Secretary of State Marco Rubio's October 7 visit. The bilateral statement announced $4 billion in US Foreign Military Sales and separately referred to Stryker armored vehicles. It did not say whether the vehicles were included in that amount.
Neither Washington nor Athens has announced the cancellation of the package.
Greece's opposition PASOK party has sought explanations from the government. Parliamentary spokesperson Dimitris Mantzos questioned Athens' response to the allegations and requested details of the agreements announced during Rubio's visit.
Congress presses for answers
Questions about Guilfoyle's position in Athens surfaced before the White House confirmed her departure.
In an October 1 letter made public on October 6, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, asked Rubio to examine reports involving Christos Marafatsos, a registered lobbyist for Greek construction and energy company Aktor Group. She sought details of his presence at official meetings and any review of possible conflicts of interest.
On October 10, Representative Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called for an investigation by the State Department's Office of Inspector General and requested Guilfoyle's testimony under oath. His request addressed business contacts, private flights and allegations involving political donor Eric Deters.
The requests did not establish that misconduct occurred.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Guilfoyle sought $100,000 from Deters in 2025 while awaiting Senate confirmation. Deters said he did not pay. Guilfoyle's lawyers challenged the reported messages and said he owed her approximately $150,000 for consulting and speaking work performed before she entered government service. They also said her private travel complied with State Department guidance.
US news organizations have reported that the inspector general was examining the allegations. The office has not publicly confirmed the scope or status of an inquiry.
Defense and energy ties
Guilfoyle promoted US liquefied natural gas exports and the Vertical Gas Corridor, intended to carry gas north from Greece into Southeast Europe.
The congressional letters raised questions about contacts involving Aktor and Marafatsos. They did not establish misconduct in those energy projects. Neither government has announced changes to its defense agreements or energy commitments because of Guilfoyle's departure.
Sources: White House press briefing (October 13), President Donald Trump's remarks (October 13), US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, US House Foreign Affairs Committee, Guilfoyle's public statement and attorneys' response, Reuters, Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, Kathimerini, Bosphorus News review and reporting.