Trump donor says Ambassador Guilfoyle sought $100,000 for her credit card bill
In short
U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle asked Trump donor Eric Deters to wire $100,000 to her American Express account on July 3, 2025, six days before her Senate confirmation hearing, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing text messages. Deters told ABC News it was "all quid pro quo" and that she offered access to Trump administration officials. Guilfoyle's attorney disputed the authenticity of the messages, and House Oversight Committee Democrats have asked her for records.
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U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle asked Trump donor Eric Deters to wire $100,000 to her American Express account days before her confirmation hearing, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing text messages. In a July 3, 2025, Signal message, Guilfoyle wrote, "Honey please I need you to get this done for me today," and sent bill payment instructions, according to the report. "You could just send it here. It won't show up anywhere if you wire money to American Express," she wrote, the Journal reported. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
Deters had promised Guilfoyle up to $1 million if she helped bring his legal and tax issues before top Trump administration officials, the Journal reported. He refused the request, writing: "Your needing $100,000 urgent unfortunately is not going to work. I can't do this without getting a divorce." ABC News reported that Deters said he did not pay because he did not have the money. Deters told the Journal that Guilfoyle "never came through on anything." [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]
Deters told ABC News that "it was all quid pro quo" and that Guilfoyle said she would help with his access to Trump administration officials if he sent the money. Guilfoyle's attorney disputed the authenticity of the messages to the Journal without providing specifics, and said the money could be a reimbursement for travel and speaking expenses. Deters denies he owed her any money. CBS News reported that sources said White House officials were told the messages were real. [ 6 , 9 ]
Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to comment, telling reporters in Greece he does not "even know if it's true or not." House Oversight Committee ranking member Robert Garcia sent Guilfoyle a letter on Thursday asking for financial records and communications with Trump administration officials, PBS News reported. "This alleged misconduct raises serious public corruption and national security concerns," Garcia wrote. NBC News reported that Democrats are calling for her removal. [ 3 , 8 , 11 ]
Guilfoyle appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee six days after the message and was confirmed 51-47 by the Senate in September 2025. She is the former wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the former fiancee of Donald Trump Jr. Deters, a former lawyer, ran for Kentucky governor in 2023 and for Congress in 2024, losing both primaries. He donated $125,000 to the MAGA Inc. super PAC in 2022, according to Federal Election Commission data, and paid Guilfoyle $300,000 to speak at his Freedom Fest events. [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]
Why it matters
The allegations concern a sitting U.S. ambassador and access to Trump administration officials, and Democrats are calling for her removal. House Oversight Committee ranking member Robert Garcia said the alleged misconduct raises public corruption and national security concerns.
Key facts
- The Wall Street Journal reported that Guilfoyle asked Eric Deters to wire $100,000 to her American Express account. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The request was made in a Signal message on July 3, 2025, six days before her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Deters said he had promised Guilfoyle up to $1 million if she helped him get his legal and tax issues before top Trump administration officials, the Journal reported. [ 4 , 8 ]
- Deters did not send the money. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Guilfoyle's attorney disputed the authenticity of the messages. [ 6 , 8 , 11 ]
- The Senate confirmed Guilfoyle 51-47 in September 2025. [ 3 , 4 ]
- House Oversight Committee ranking member Robert Garcia sent Guilfoyle a letter asking for financial records and communications with Trump administration officials. [ 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Wall Street Journal reported that Guilfoyle asked Deters for $100,000 to pay her American Express bill days before her confirmation hearing. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]
- Guilfoyle wrote "Honey please I need you to get this done for me today," according to the messages. [ 4 , 6 ]
- Deters replied that the request was "not going to work" and that he could not do it "without getting a divorce." [ 3 , 4 ]
- Guilfoyle's attorney disputed the authenticity of the text messages. [ 6 , 8 , 11 ]
- Deters described the request as a quid pro quo. [ 6 , 9 , 10 ]
- Deters donated $125,000 to a pro-Trump super PAC in 2022, according to Federal Election Commission data. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the text messages are authentic. Guilfoyle's attorney disputed their authenticity without giving specifics, while CBS News sources said White House officials were told the messages were real.
- What the requested money was for. Guilfoyle's attorney said it could be a reimbursement for travel and speaking expenses; Deters denies he owed her any money.
- Why Deters did not pay. The Hill and the New York Post cite his message that it would cost him his marriage; ABC News reported he said he did not have the money.
- Whether Guilfoyle made similar requests to other donors. Deters claimed she had, according to Garcia's letter; no other outlet reports this.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Oct. 7: The Wall Street Journal publishes its report on Guilfoyle's texts with a donor. [ 1 ]
- Oct. 8: The Hill reports Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to comment on the story in Greece. [ 3 ]
- Oct. 8: ABC News quotes Deters calling the request "all quid pro quo." [ 6 ]
- Oct. 8: PBS reports House Oversight Democrats have asked Guilfoyle for records. [ 8 ]
- Oct. 8: CBS News reports sources saying White House officials were told the texts were real. [ 9 ]
- Oct. 8: NBC News reports Democrats are calling for Guilfoyle to be removed. [ 11 ]