U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle asked a prominent Republican donor to wire $100,000 to her American Express account just days before her Senate confirmation hearing last year, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal published Wednesday.
The request was made in a Signal message to Eric Deters, a Kentucky businessman and former GOP candidate for governor and Congress. Guilfoyle wrote, “You could just send it here. It won’t show up anywhere if you wire money to American Express,” adding “Please.” The Journal reported that she also provided wiring instructions and placed two phone calls to Deters.
The exchange occurred on July 3, 2025, six days before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee considered her nomination. The committee approved her by a 13-9 vote, and the full Senate confirmed her 51-47 in September.
Deters, who previously co-owned Snappy Tomato Pizza and has been suspended twice by the Kentucky Bar Association, declined the request. He replied, “Your needing $100,000 urgent unfortunately is not going to work. I can’t do this without getting a divorce.” Federal Election Commission records show Deters donated $125,000 to the MAGA Inc. super PAC in 2022.
The White House has not responded to requests for comment. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, traveling in Greece, declined to address the story, saying he didn't “even know if it’s true or not” and that he wouldn't comment on a report published just hours earlier.
The Journal’s report follows another recent story alleging Guilfoyle promoted a Greek company whose lobbyist accompanied her on official travel in the Balkans. That prompted Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, to ask Rubio for a review. In a letter, Shaheen wrote, “Such actions do not serve U.S. credibility overseas and risk undermining U.S. diplomacy.”
Guilfoyle, the former wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), was engaged to Donald Trump Jr. until 2024. The new report adds to scrutiny over her conduct as ambassador, and it echoes broader concerns about donor-linked perks in the Trump administration. Similar questions have arisen about other officials and their ties to wealthy supporters.
The confirmation process itself has faced criticism, with some senators questioning the vetting of nominees. One GOP senator later called his vote for Pete Hegseth a major mistake. The latest revelations could fuel further debate about accountability and ethics in high-level appointments.
Guilfoyle has not publicly commented on the Journal's report. The State Department has not issued a formal statement beyond Rubio's remarks.
