Why Guilfoyle’s departure was the right move for the Trump administration
By Easton Martin
Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned from her position as United States Ambassador to Greece on Tuesday after the White House requested her departure. The decision followed the disclosure of text messages showing Guilfoyle asking a political donor for $100,000 to cover personal expenses in exchange for access.
The Wall Street Journal first reported details of the exchange, prompting President Donald Trump to state publicly that he did not like what he read. New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia subsequently confirmed that the administration asked for Guilfoyle’s resignation, as reported by The Washington Post.
Removing Guilfoyle resolves an ethical distraction and prevents a very avoidable controversy from overshadowing diplomatic work. United States ambassadors represent American interests abroad, and individuals who create personal ethical liabilities undermine the trust of such a position. This is especially important before the midterms, where any errors by the administration could sway state races to the left.
Greece plays an important role in regional security and NATO operations in the Mediterranean. Rather than defending an unforced ethical error, it seems the administration made the correct choice to cut ties and open the post to a qualified replacement.
