White House spokesperson Katie Zacharia announces dismissal of U.S. ambassador to Greece

On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, the newly appointed White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia, held her inaugural briefing. Zacharia, who succeeds Karoline Leavitt following her appointment by Donald Trump on October 9, officially announced that the U.S. government has requested the resignation of Kimberly Guilfoyle, the current U.S. Ambassador to Greece.

During the 14-minute briefing, which was described by the Associated Press as notably brief, Zacharia praised Guilfoyle as a valuable member of the American team, despite the administration's demand for her departure. This decision follows widespread media reports concerning various allegations against the ambassador, as well as publicly expressed dissatisfaction from President Donald Trump regarding the situation in Athens.

Zacharia stated that her primary objective is to promote the accomplishments of Donald Trump, whom she described as his own best representative. The transition marks a period of significant staffing changes within the administration, as the White House seeks to address controversies involving its diplomatic representatives abroad. No further details regarding the timing of the transition or a successor for the ambassador position were provided during the briefing.