The Wall Street Journal has published text messages showing that Kimberly Guilfoyle, while preparing for her congressional hearing to become U.S. ambassador to Greece, reached out to a Trump donor with an urgent request: $100,000 that she said she owed American Express — arranged "in a way that wouldn't leave a paper trail." The donor did not make the payment, but the exchange, part of hundreds of messages, emails and letters reviewed by the Journal, has raised new questions about one of America's most high-profile ambassadors.
What the messages show
According to the Wall Street Journal's reporting, Guilfoyle contacted a donor to then-President Donald Trump as she was preparing for her Senate confirmation hearing. She said she needed $100,000 to settle a debt she owed to American Express, and asked for the arrangement to leave no paper trail. The donor ultimately did not make the payment.
The messages were part of a tranche of hundreds of communications reviewed by the Journal. Jesse Binnall, a lawyer for Guilfoyle, said the ambassador disputed the authenticity of the messages but declined to provide specifics.
A nomination already under fire
The revelation lands in the middle of an already difficult stretch for the ambassador. Last week, Democrats on the Senate and House foreign affairs committees urged the State Department to review Guilfoyle's conduct. They cited the Journal's previous investigation into her promotion of a Greek company whose lobbyist traveled with her to meetings with governments — an arrangement that raised ethics questions about the line between diplomacy and private interest.
The controversy fits a pattern of scrutiny around Trump's diplomatic appointments, which have repeatedly drawn headlines — from the high-profile Miami talks on Ukraine to the administration's broader clashes over executive ethics.
Why the request matters
Ambassadors must clear a Senate confirmation process that explicitly examines financial entanglements and susceptibility to leverage. A nominee asking a political donor for a six-figure sum — routed so it would leave no paper trail — goes to the heart of what that vetting is meant to catch: debts, favors, and informal obligations that could compromise a diplomat once in post.
The story also arrives as Trump's administration faces mounting pressure on multiple fronts. Congressional Democrats, who have been openly speculating about their post-midterm agenda, are likely to use the episode to question the administration's broader approach to ambassadorial vetting.
What happens next
The calls for a State Department review put the ball in the administration's court. Whether the department opens a formal inquiry — and whether the White House stands behind its envoy in Athens — will determine whether this becomes a passing embarrassment or a lasting liability. Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and longtime Trump ally, remains in her post for now.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Wall Street Journal report?
The Journal reported that text messages show Kimberly Guilfoyle, while preparing for her confirmation hearing as U.S. ambassador to Greece, asked a Trump donor for $100,000 to pay an American Express debt, requesting it be arranged so it would leave no paper trail. The donor did not pay.
What has Guilfoyle's team said?
Her lawyer, Jesse Binnall, said she disputed the authenticity of the messages but declined to provide specifics.
Why are Democrats calling for a State Department review?
Democrats on the Senate and House foreign affairs committees cited both the messages and the Journal's earlier reporting that Guilfoyle promoted a Greek company whose lobbyist accompanied her to meetings with governments, and urged the State Department to review her conduct.
Is she still ambassador to Greece?
Yes. Guilfoyle took up her post in Athens and remains in office while the controversy plays out.
