President Donald Trump indicated on Monday that he is considering removing Kimberly Guilfoyle from her post as U.S. ambassador to Greece, following accusations that she attempted to solicit funds from a donor in exchange for political access.
Speaking to reporters as he departed the White House for a campaign rally, Trump confirmed his administration is reviewing the matter and expressed dissatisfaction with reports alleging that Guilfoyle leveraged her official position and family connections to obtain money.
The controversy centers on claims made by Eric Deters, a former lawyer and conservative media figure who has donated to Trump’s campaigns. Deters alleged that in July 2025, just days before Guilfoyle’s Senate confirmation hearing, she requested he cover a $100,000 credit card bill. According to Deters, the request was a clear quid pro quo for access to senior Trump officials.
Deters provided ABC News with text messages he says were exchanged with Guilfoyle regarding the payment. In one message, he alleges Guilfoyle wrote, “Honey please I need you to get this done for me today,” referencing the desired transaction. The Wall Street Journal first reported on Deters’ accusations.
Guilfoyle’s legal team has denied wrongdoing, stating in a late Sunday release that the funds sought were payment for speaking engagements and appearances scheduled prior to her nomination, which remain unpaid. Deters maintains that he never owed Guilfoyle any money and stated he did not make the payment because he lacked the funds.
Guilfoyle, the former wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom and ex-fiancée of Donald Trump Jr., has not yet responded to requests for comment. The U.S. Embassy in Greece also declined to address the specifics but issued a statement praising Guilfoyle’s career and commitment to representing American values with integrity.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who recently traveled to Athens for a high-profile visit, refused to address the allegations while abroad. “I don’t even know if it’s true or not true,” Rubio said. “So it’s just not going to work that way.”
However, sources familiar with the matter report that White House and State Department officials have held discussions regarding potential disciplinary action, including dismissal. Both sources cautioned that no final decision has been made and that the president retains ultimate authority over personnel changes.
Tensions reportedly arose during Rubio’s trip, as Guilfoyle attended events without explicit State Department invitations, frustrating some officials. The State Department’s inspector general is currently examining claims of possible misconduct, though it remains unclear whether a formal probe has been initiated.
Deters, who ran unsuccessfully for Kentucky governor in 2023 and for the U.S. House in 2024, has a controversial legal history. His law license was suspended in 2012, and in 2021, the Kentucky Supreme Court cited a “notorious propensity” for filing malicious or frivolous lawsuits when refusing to reinstate him.
Rubio saying he doesn’t even know if it’s true is concerning. Shouldn’t ambassadors be vetted more rigorously?
Does the State Dept actually have any power here, or is this just political theater until the decision drops?
Wait, did she really text ‘Honey please’? That sounds like a scam, not diplomacy. Wild.
This is outrageous. Using a diplomatic post for personal gain undermines our foreign relations entirely.