Eric Deters, a Kentucky attorney and longtime Trump supporter, has been thrust into the national spotlight after a Wall Street Journal report exposed alleged text messages with U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle. The messages suggest Guilfoyle, the former fiancée of Donald Trump Jr., pressed Deters to cover a $100,000 American Express bill just days before her Senate confirmation hearing in July 2025.
According to the Journal, Guilfoyle sent Deters a flurry of messages on the encrypted app Signal, urging him to wire the money directly to American Express to avoid a paper trail. "It won't show up anywhere if you wire money to American Express," she wrote on July 3, 2025, ahead of her July 9 confirmation. Deters refused, saying he lacked the funds and couldn't risk his marriage.
Deters, who has spent years cultivating ties to the Trump family, told ABC's "Good Morning America" that Guilfoyle offered a clear quid pro quo: if he paid her debt, she would become his "ride or die in the Trump world" and help him reach senior administration officials. He claimed she never delivered on those promises, including arranging meetings with FBI Director Kash Patel and former Attorney General Pam Bondi. "She never came through on anything," Deters said.
Guilfoyle's attorney has disputed the authenticity of the texts without providing specifics, suggesting the money was for legitimate speaking fees and travel expenses—a claim Deters denies. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to comment, saying he couldn't verify the allegations.
Deters' relationship with the Trump family dates back to his conservative radio show and his founding of Freedom Fest, a Northern Kentucky event launched in 2020 to oppose COVID-19 mandates. The festival drew prominent MAGA figures, including Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. Deters says he paid Guilfoyle $300,000 over several years for speaking appearances, along with $200,000 to Trump Jr. and $100,000 to Eric Trump. He also donated $125,000 to the MAGA Inc. super PAC.
After Trump's 2024 victory, Deters sought Guilfoyle's help with federal matters, including the extradition of a fugitive doctor and an IRS dispute. The Journal reported that Guilfoyle contacted then-IRS Commissioner Billy Long on his behalf. Deters also offered her $1 million to arrange a Tucker Carlson interview, which never happened.
The controversy adds to scrutiny of Guilfoyle's finances and her role as ambassador. The wire request is just one of several recent ethics questions facing Trump appointees, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's denial of inflated jet deals. Meanwhile, Congress is pushing back on executive spending decisions, adding to the political turbulence.
Deters, who has a history of failed congressional bids and legal troubles, said he is now speaking out because he believes Guilfoyle's conduct was improper. "The texts make it very clear," he told ABC, "she was so desperate for that money."
