Trump said Monday, Oct. 12, he is "looking at" removing Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece. Texts reported by The Wall Street Journal show her asking Trump donor Eric Deters, days before her July 2025 confirmation hearing, to wire $100,000 to her American Express bill while offering him access to administration officials. Deters says he never paid.
Her lawyer disputed the texts' authenticity to the Journal on Oct. 7, without specifics. In a statement late Sunday, Oct. 11, lawyers David Schwartz and Jesse Binnall said the money was a real debt for pre-nomination appearances; Deters denies owing her anything.
Catch up
- Oct. 7 — The Journal published the texts; Secretary of State Marco Rubio called her "a strong ambassador" in Athens.
- Oct. 8 — Deters told CBS it was "pay to play." Robert Garcia (Rep-D California), top Democrat on House Oversight, asked for her financial records by Oct. 22.
- Oct. 9 — Trump: "I just heard about it, too bad," adding "she was always very nice." NBC reported the State Department inspector general was investigating.
- Oct. 11 — A senior official told the AP that Trump and Rubio were weighing her removal.
4 earlier issues
- Kimberly Guilfoyle asked a Trump donor to wire $100,000 to her American Express bill before her ambassador confirmation hearing, messages show
- UpdateDonor says Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle's $100,000 credit-card request was 'pay to play'; House Democrats request her records by Oct. 22
- UpdateState Dept inspector general investigates Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle over alleged $100,000 request to a donor
- UpdateState Department watchdog investigates Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle as the WSJ publishes texts offering donors access to Trump
Where it stands
- Her lawyers say they are 'evaluating all available legal remedies to collect this debt.'
- The inspector general is looking into the allegations; the AP's source could not say whether a formal probe has begun. No firing has been announced.
- Garcia's Oct. 22 deadline is a request, not a subpoena.