The US ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, is facing calls for an investigation after being accused by Donald Trump’s donor, Eric Deters, of soliciting a $100,000 payment in exchange for access to administration officials. Deters, a former congressional candidate and lawyer, told MS Now on Thursday that Guilfoyle had “surprised” him with an offer to grant him access to government officials in exchange for settling his debt, prior to her Senate confirmation hearing for the ambassadorship to Greece.
“That was absolutely a quid pro quo,” Deters told the network, commenting on the report by the Wall Street Journal that Guilfoyle had solicited money. “Kimberly Guilfoyle is a fraud,” he added. The Guardian sought comment from Guilfoyle’s attorney. Jesse Binn, Guilfoyle’s lawyer, told the Wall Street Journal that Guilfoster disputes the authenticity of the messages, but that a balance is owed for travel and event appearances prior to her nomination. Deters stated to the Journal that he owes no such balance.
Deters shared messages exchanged between the two, in which the ambassador to Greece is said to have promised access to Trump administration officials “to the grave” in exchange for a $100,000 payment to American Express. According to Deters, Guilfoyle promised that he would be “Trump’s to the grave, forever and always” if he settled the debt. Deters maintains that he did not make the payment. Guilfoster allegedly expressed concern that her communications with Deters might become public and reprimanded him for indiscretion. “Eric, I really would like you to stop documenting all of this. It is very dangerous and not helpful to you or me, you could simply call me on Signal,” she is said to have written in one message.
Asked about the report during a press conference in Athens on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would not comment on the allegations. Rubio reiterated support for the US ambassador in Greece, adding: “Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here.” When asked again about the reports on Thursday, Rubio declined to comment. The vice president expressed restraint when asked to respond to the situation in which an ambassador was offering access to government officials in exchange for money to settle debts. “With that hypothetical situation, Jen, I obviously don’t like it,” the vice president replied. “But I don’t know exactly who I am talking about. I don’t know all the details. What I notice about such stories is that we are never at a crossroads because the details are really important,” he added.
Concerns about Guilfoster’s conduct were first raised in September when the Wall Street Journal reported that she had used her position to invite Greek lobbyists to official diplomatic meetings and promoted the business interests of a Greek construction and energy company. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to Rubio on Tuesday asking him to review the allegations against Guilfoster. “Such conduct does not serve American credibility abroad and risks undermining American diplomacy,” Shaheen wrote. “Ahead of your upcoming trip to Greece, I demand an immediate review of Ambassador Guilfoster’s conduct and a clarification of the steps taken and to be taken to avoid improper influence, and even the appearance of a conflict of interest.”
Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, sent a letter to Rubio in September requesting more information on Guilfoster’s conduct, her relationship with the Greek construction and energy company, and her relationship with the lobbyist. “If the reports are true, Ambassador Guilfoster is not appropriate to represent the United States abroad and should be removed from office,” Meeks wrote. A spokesperson for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee staff confirmed to the Guardian that they are seeking additional information and continuing the investigation.
Guilfoster, 57, was once part of Trump’s inner circle, having been engaged to Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of the US president, for about three years. The couple broke off their engagement in 2024, and shortly after Trump took office, he nominated Guilfoster as ambassador to Greece.
