Katie Zacharia, Donald Trump's new White House press secretary, announced during her debut briefing that the administration had asked Kimberly Guilfoyle, the US ambassador to Greece, to step down from her post, ending her diplomatic tenure abruptly.
First Briefing Bombshell
The news came during Zacharia's first appearance before the White House press corps, just days after Trump named her as the replacement for Karoline Leavitt. Guilfoyle, who was previously engaged to Trump's eldest son Donald Trump Jr, has faced scrutiny following allegations of misconduct before and during her tenure in Athens.
These include claims of threatening a host-country official, accepting improper gifts and allegedly asking a Trump donor to pay her $100,000 (£750,000) credit card bill in exchange for access to his administration. Guilfoyle's lawyers have denied any wrongdoing and said she was owed the money for speaking engagements and consulting work for the donor.
Reaction and Response
Asked about her departure, Zacharia said: "She has been a wonderful asset to the team and we wish her well." Guilfoyle said her time as Ambassador "may be coming to an end," but that her "commitment to President Trump, the America First movement, and the country I love will never end."
The post, shared on X, continued: "My gratitude and respect for President Trump and Secretary Rubio remain unwavering. I am proud of what we accomplished together, and I will always be a loyal supporter of President Trump and his mission to Make America Great Again." Guilfoyle also addressed claims that she had asked the donor to pay a huge credit card bill. "These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity," she wrote on X.
Briefing Details
The new press secretary's first briefing lasted around 14 minutes, with questions taken from just three media outlets. Zacharia began by praising Trump and outlining his agenda ahead of next month's midterm elections, before facing questions on the administration's foreign policy.
When asked about intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, she said she would have to get back to reporters with an answer. She also confirmed the White House would continue the media rotation system introduced by her predecessor, allowing a wider range of outlets to question the administration.
Zacharia was appointed last week after Leavitt left the role in August to spend more time with her young children and family. Zacharia previously worked as a communications advisor for Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind his Truth Social platform.
