Trump Donor Accuses Ambassador Guilfoyle of $100K Quid Pro Quo on October 8

U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle asked Trump donor Eric Deters to wire $100,000 directly to her American Express account in July 2025, just days before her Senate confirmation hearing, according to text messages obtained by the Wall Street Journal. Deters, a Kentucky attorney and former congressional candidate, said Guilfoyle promised him access to Trump administration officials if he paid her debt. He declined the request and told ABC News on Thursday that the exchange was “all quid pro quo.”

What Deters says Guilfoyle offered

On July 3, 2025, Guilfoyle sent Deters a Signal message saying “Honey please I need you to get this done for me today” along with payment instructions for American Express. She told him the wire “won’t show up anywhere” if sent directly to the credit card company. In another message, Guilfoyle promised Deters that if he paid, “I will be your Trump ride or die, forever and ever.” Deters had been seeking her help with tax disputes and legal matters involving the IRS and Department of Justice, and had offered to pay her up to $1 million for results.

Why Deters refused and what happened next

Deters declined to send the $100,000, telling Guilfoyle “I can’t do this without getting a divorce.” He later told the Journal he had already paid her $300,000 in speaking fees over the years without receiving promised favors. “She never came through on anything,” he said. Guilfoyle was confirmed by the Senate 51-47 on September 18, 2025, after her July 9 confirmation hearing. Deters went public with his allegations on Thursday, calling Guilfoyle “a grifter” during an interview with ABC News.

Guilfoyle’s response and official silence

Guilfoyle’s lawyer, Jesse Binnall, told the Wall Street Journal that she disputed the authenticity of the messages but offered no specifics. He said Guilfoyle was owed money for travel and speaking expenses at events before her nomination. Deters denied owing her any balance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, currently in Greece, refused to comment on the allegations on Thursday, saying the State Department would not respond to media reports without advance notice. Top Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees have requested an investigation into Guilfoyle’s conduct as ambassador.

Background on Deters and Guilfoyle’s relationship

Deters, 63, has known Guilfoyle since 2020 when he founded Freedom Fest, an anti-COVID mandate event. Guilfoyle was paid $300,000 total to speak at the festival alongside other Trump family members. Deters ran unsuccessfully for Kentucky governor in 2023 and for Congress in 2024. Guilfoyle, 57, is the former wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom and ex-fiancée of Donald Trump Jr. She was a Fox News host before joining the Trump administration.

Final Thoughts

Deters’ allegations expose a potential conflict between Guilfoyle’s role as ambassador and her financial dealings with donors seeking administration favors. With Democrats calling for an investigation and Rubio declining comment, the matter now rests with the State Department Office of Inspector General.

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