Long before she was asked to resign as U.S. ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle was known for her roles in media and politics, as well as relationships that connected her to two of America's most prominent political families.
The former Fox News host and prosecutor was dismissed from her diplomatic post after reports raised questions about her conduct on the job. The White House announced Oct. 13 that Guilfoyle had been asked to step down.
"We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign. She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well," White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia said during her first briefing with reporters.
Kimberly Guilfoyle was married to Gavin Newsom
Before joining President Donald Trump's orbit, Guilfoyle was married to California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Guilfoyle and Newsom wed in 2001 after meeting through Newsom's business partner, Billy Getty. During their years together, the pair became one of California's most watched political couples and were once dubbed "The New Kennedys."
Their marriage ended in 2006 during Newsom's first term as mayor of San Francisco.
In his 2026 memoir, "Young Man in a Hurry," Newsom described the divorce as amicable but suggested he maintained emotional distance during the relationship.
Despite their split, the former spouses have occasionally traded public barbs as their political views moved sharply in opposite directions.
Newsom said in a 2023 interview that Guilfoyle was a "different person" from the woman he married and alleged that she had "fallen prey" to the culture at Fox News. Guilfoyle responded by saying Newsom was "unrecognizable" and had "fallen prey" to the "radical left."
Guilfoyle was later engaged to Donald Trump Jr.
Following her divorce from Newsom, Guilfoyle began dating Donald Trump Jr. in 2018, a relationship that made her a regular presence in Trump's political circle. The pair later became engaged and frequently appeared together at campaign events and Republican gatherings.
The relationship reportedly ended shortly before Trump appointed Guilfoyle ambassador to Greece in late 2024.
Trump has recently downplayed the significance of their relationship.
"She, I guess, dated my son a long time ago," Trump told reporters on Oct. 13, adding that she "wasn't a member of my family."
His remarks came hours after news broke that Guilfoyle had been asked to resign from her diplomatic post.
What to know about Kimberly Guilfoyle
Guilfoyle spent much of her career as an American TV personality and prosecutor. She graduated from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1994.
In 2006, she worked as a Fox News anchor as the weekend host of "The Lineup" and co-host of "The Five" until leaving the network in 2018 over allegations of sexual harassment and workplace misconduct, The Huffington Post reported.
Guilfoyle was also married to furniture heir Eric Villency from 2006 to 2009 with whom she has a son Ronan, according to People Magazine.
Contributing: Francesca Chambers, Fernando Cervantes Jr. / USA TODAY
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@usatodayco.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kimberly Guilfoyle's ties to Gavin Newsom and Donald Trump Jr.
