Democratic lawmakers are calling for Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece, to be fired after a bombshell report that she sought $100,000 from a Trump donor while offering access to administration officials.
Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said that Guilfoyle should be removed if the allegations are true.
“Reports coming out regarding Amb. Guilfoyle’s conduct are deeply concerning and suggest potentially corrupt influences on U.S. foreign policy,” Meeks said in a statement to The Washington Sun.
“If these allegations are accurate, Amb. Guilfoyle is unfit to represent the United States abroad and should be removed from her position.”
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The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Guilfoyle texted Trump donor Eric Deters, a former Kentucky congressional candidate, to ask if he would cover a $100,000 American Express bill before her Senate confirmation hearing in 2025.
The newspaper reported that Guilfoyle offered to help Deters with tax and legal matters by connecting him with Trump administration officials. She also suggested that the payment could be made without leaving a paper trail according to the WSJ. Deters did not ultimately make the payment and told the newspaper that Guilfoyle had been unable to make good on her promise of access to Trumpworld insiders.
Guilfoyle’s attorney, Jesse Binnall, disputed the authenticity of the messages but did not identify specific inaccuracies.
Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and ex-fiancée of Donald Trump Jr., was confirmed as ambassador in September 2025.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to address the allegations while leaving Greece on Thursday. He said he was aware of The Wall Street Journal’s reporting but did not know whether the allegations were true. He declined to say whether the State Department would investigate.
Vice President JD Vance weighed in on the allegations Thursday, saying he opposed government officials selling access but he wanted to “get the full story before offering a real opinion.”
“Of course I don’t like anybody selling access to another government official, certainly a high-level government official,” he added.
Rep. Don Beyer, a Virginia Democrat who previously served as a U.S. ambassador, said Guilfoyle should be removed and potentially face criminal charges.
“As you would expect, accepting large sums of cash in exchange for access or favors using her official position would obviously run afoul of these.” Beyer wrote on X.
“Ambassador Guilfoyle must be fired and if she broke the law, which seems highly likely, prosecuted.”
Other Democrats also condemned the alleged financial dealings.
Rep. James Walkinshaw, a Virginia Democrat, called for a Justice Department investigation.
“This should be investigated by the Department of Justice. If we had an independent Department of Justice, as we’ve had under Republican and Democratic administrations, this kind of thing would be investigated,” he said.
Reps. Dave Min of California and Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, as well as Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, also added their names to the list of lawmakers calling for a criminal investigation.
The new allegations follow earlier reports about Guilfoyle’s dealings with private businesses and foreign officials while serving as U.S. ambassador.
The Daily Mail reported Thursday that the State Department’s inspector general is investigating earlier allegations involving her treatment of embassy staff, use of private aircraft, acceptance of gifts and business relationships.
The Journal previously reported that Guilfoyle promoted the interests of a Greek energy and construction company, allowed its lobbyist to attend diplomatic meetings and suggested the U.S. could undermine Greece’s government.
Those reports had already prompted congressional scrutiny. In an Oct. 1 letter, Meeks demanded answers from Rubio about Guilfoyle’s conduct and any investigation, giving the department until Oct. 15 to respond.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, separately requested an immediate review.
Just hours before The Wall Street Journal story broke, Rubio defended Guilfoyle, telling reporters at a news conference in Athens, “Suffice it to say, our embassy here is doing a great job. Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here.”
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