October 11, 2026 — The United States ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, is rejecting a news report that she asked a wealthy political donor to pay $100,000 toward her personal credit-card bill while promising access to Trump administration officials in return.
According to the report, first published by a major financial newspaper, Guilfoyle sent text messages in July 2025 — days before her Senate confirmation hearing — asking Kentucky businessman and Trump donor Eric Deters to wire the money to cover her American Express balance in a way that would not leave a paper trail. Deters, a former lawyer and conservative media host, told interviewers the request was, in his words, entirely quid pro quo, claiming Guilfoyle offered to be his advocate in Trump circles if he paid.
Guilfoyle’s attorney has disputed the authenticity of the messages and said any funds discussed could have related to reimbursement for travel and speaking expenses. Deters denies he owed her money and says he never made the payment. A US Embassy spokesperson said the ambassador was fully vetted by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and remains committed to serving with dedication and integrity.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asked about the report during a trip to Greece, declined to engage with its specifics. Guilfoyle, the former fiancée of Donald Trump Jr., was confirmed as ambassador in September 2025 by a 51–47 Senate vote.
The episode has revived scrutiny of the vetting process for political appointees, with critics calling for a formal review and supporters dismissing the claims as a disgruntled donor’s revenge. The State Department has not announced any investigation.
Deters himself is a colourful figure in Kentucky politics — a suspended lawyer who lost Republican primaries for governor in 2023 and for Congress in 2024, and who says he previously paid Guilfoyle hundreds of thousands of dollars for appearances at his pro-Trump festival events. His critics note that history cuts both ways: it gives him insider access, but also a possible motive. For now, the competing accounts leave the public with a familiar Washington puzzle — and an ambassador under a cloud.
