Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece and longtime Trump ally, is facing renewed scrutiny after messages reviewed by The Wall Street Journal appeared to show her asking a Trump donor for $100,000 while also offering to help him connect with senior administration officials.
The messages were exchanged with Eric Deters, a former congressional candidate and supporter of President Donald Trump. According to the Journal’s reporting, Deters had been seeking Guilfoyle’s assistance with several personal legal and tax matters involving the federal government.
$100,000 Payment Request
According to messages reviewed by the Journal, Guilfoyle contacted Deters in July 2025, shortly before her Senate confirmation hearing for the ambassador post.
She asked him to provide $100,000 toward an American Express bill. The report says Guilfoyle specifically sought a payment method that she believed would not leave a visible paper trail.
Deters ultimately declined to make the payment, telling the Journal that doing so could have serious consequences for his marriage.
The communications have raised questions because they occurred while Guilfoyle was preparing for confirmation to a prominent diplomatic position.
Alleged Access to Trump Officials
The Journal also reported that Deters had been asking Guilfoyle to help him reach officials in the incoming Trump administration.
According to the messages, Guilfoyle communicated with or attempted to contact officials regarding Deters’ concerns, including matters involving the Internal Revenue Service and the Justice Department. She also discussed efforts to help Deters obtain an interview with Tucker Carlson.
Deters said he had paid Guilfoyle hundreds of thousands of dollars over several years for speaking appearances and other events. He told the Journal that he believed he had not received the assistance he expected.
The report does not establish that any government official actually took action because of Deters’ payments or that Guilfoyle successfully delivered the access he sought.
Messages Raise Questions About Transparency
The Journal reported that Guilfoyle expressed concern in messages about creating records of their financial discussions.
In one exchange, she reportedly asked Deters to stop documenting their arrangements in writing and suggested communicating through Signal instead. The messages have become a major part of the questions surrounding her dealings with the donor.
Deters also reportedly prepared documents describing money he believed was owed to Guilfoyle for consulting-related work.
The timing of those discussions has drawn particular attention because Guilfoyle was moving toward a senior government position.
Guilfoyle’s Lawyer Disputes the Messages
Guilfoyle’s attorney, Jesse Binnall, disputed the authenticity of the messages reviewed by the Journal.
He said Guilfoyle had been paid to participate in patriotic events before her nomination and argued that she was owed money connected to those activities. Deters, however, told the Journal that he did not owe her the amount described by her lawyer.
The dispute means the messages and the competing accounts surrounding them remain contested.
Rubio Defends Guilfoyle
The revelations have also drawn questions from members of Congress.
Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee have called for scrutiny of Guilfoyle’s conduct and urged the State Department to review the matter.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked about the allegations during a visit to Greece. He declined to engage with the details of the report, saying media reports should not automatically be treated as verified facts, while praising Guilfoyle’s performance as ambassador.
A U.S. Embassy official also defended Guilfoyle, saying her career in and out of public service was guided by strong values and that she had been vetted and confirmed by the Senate.
Why the Story Matters
The allegations have attracted attention because they involve a senior U.S. diplomatic official, private financial requests and reported efforts to connect a donor with people inside the Trump administration.
The available reporting does not establish that Guilfoyle committed a crime or that the alleged payment was ultimately made. Deters did not provide the requested $100,000, and Guilfoyle’s attorney has challenged the authenticity of the communications.
The controversy is therefore centered on the reported messages, the circumstances surrounding them and questions about potential conflicts of interest and transparency.