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Trump Praises Musk’s Genius — Then Twists The Knife

By
Madeleine Jackson
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UK Government, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

President Donald Trump has patched things up with Elon Musk, but that hasn’t stopped him from taking a little dig at his billionaire ally.

Speaking at a rally in Bullhead City, Arizona, on Wednesday, Trump was attacking Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs when he pivoted to an unconventional assessment of Musk’s intelligence.

“First of all, she’s a dumb person. You ever see her?” Trump said of Hobbs, according to The Hill. “I know smart people … from Elon down to [Hobbs], I figure there’s a big gap.”

Then came the backhanded compliment.

“No, Elon’s 80 percent super genius, and 20 percent — he got a little problem, I always tell him,” Trump said, before adding: “No, he’s a great guy though.” A transcript of the October 14 rally confirms the exchange.

The remark offered another glimpse into a relationship that has survived a spectacular public breakup — and a gradual return to political cooperation.

From White House Ally To Public Adversary

Musk helped power Trump’s 2024 election effort before becoming a prominent figure in the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, which pursued cuts to federal spending and staffing.

But after leaving his government role in May 2025, the Tesla and SpaceX chief became an outspoken critic of Trump’s sweeping tax-and-spending legislation.

By June, the disagreement had turned into an ugly public feud. Trump threatened to eliminate government contracts and subsidies benefiting Musk’s companies. Musk escalated matters with an unsupported allegation that the administration was withholding Jeffrey Epstein records to protect Trump, Forbes reported at the time. Musk subsequently deleted that post and another endorsing Trump’s impeachment.

On June 11, Musk publicly stepped back from some of his attacks.

“I regret some of my posts about President Donald Trump last week,” he wrote on X. “They went too far.”

How They Found Their Way Back

The two shook hands at Charlie Kirk’s September 2025 memorial service in Arizona, a visible step toward repairing their relationship.

The reconciliation also involved work behind the scenes.

An August Forbes report summarizing reporting by The Wall Street Journal described efforts by Kirk, Vice President JD Vance, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and others to rebuild the alliance.

By then, Trump and Musk were reportedly speaking roughly once a month. Musk also accompanied the president on his May trip to China, although Trump had privately acknowledged that their relationship would never be quite the same, according to the report.

Musk Opens His Checkbook Again

Their renewed cooperation now carries major stakes for Republicans defending control of Congress.

Axios reported Thursday that Musk gave the Senate Leadership Fund $158 million in September.

That financial support marks a striking turnaround from last year’s threats to challenge the GOP.

And while Trump’s Arizona remarks show he still has a jab ready for Musk, he made sure to follow it with a friendly qualification: “He’s a great guy though.”

Trump Tells New Press Secretary To ‘Reconsider’ Job After Turbulent First Week

By
Madeleine Jackson
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President Donald Trump’s new press secretary hasn’t finished her first week — and he’s already told her to think about whether she wants to stay.

Trump told reporters Friday that he advised Katie Zacharia to reconsider the role after a rocky debut and days of scrutiny over her legal credentials, according to The Hill.

“I said, ‘Honestly, if I were you, I’d reconsider,’” Trump said, describing their conversation.

“I said, ‘You think about it, but I would reconsider,’” he continued.

Trump said the decision ultimately belongs to Zacharia and that he would speak with her upon his return from a trip that includes a Georgia rally and time in Florida. He said he wants her “to be happy” and accused the news media of treating her unfairly.

A Briefing That Became The Story

Zacharia’s Tuesday debut lasted roughly 14 minutes and included just three questions, from Breitbart, Fox News and the Daily Mail. She also briefly referred to her husband as “my president” before correcting herself — a stumble that quickly became fodder for critics, Forbes reported.

Former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki compared the appearance to a “Saturday Night Live” skit. Anthony Scaramucci, whose stint as Trump’s communications director lasted just 11 days, publicly started counting down her tenure. Trump initially praised her performance, telling reporters Tuesday, “I thought she was very good.”

Zacharia told Hannity she had received briefing materials Tuesday morning and had little preparation time, according to Fox News.

Bar Exam Questions Take Over

The media has also seized on Zacharia’s failed bar exam and her public identification as a lawyer. Trump described her as an attorney when announcing her appointment.

That coverage now includes an acknowledgment from Zacharia herself. During Thursday’s appearance on Sean Hannity’s Fox News program, she confirmed that she had not passed the exam and had never retaken it, ABC News reported.

Earlier Thursday, she told Real America’s Voice that she took the exam after graduating from Pepperdine’s law school in 2011 but considered the results “somewhat inconsequential” because she planned to move to China, where she subsequently worked in international transaction law.

She also said legal professionals had advised her that she could describe herself as a lawyer providing legal analysis, distinguishing that from an attorney providing legal advice, according to ABC News.

Questions intensified after she responded to a reporter asking where she passed the bar by referring to her move to China. She later told The New York Times that helicopter noise had prevented her from hearing the question correctly, ABC reported.

By Friday, Trump was publicly offering his new spokeswoman a chance to reconsider — leaving her future behind the podium unresolved.

Megyn Kelly Urges Don Lemon To Run For President

By
Madeleine Jackson
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Don Lemon is floating a presidential run — and Megyn Kelly is giving him an unexpected push.

The former Fox News host encouraged the outspoken Trump critic to pursue the White House, arguing that a career in television journalism should hardly disqualify him. But her surprising show of support came with a swipe at some of the Democratic Party’s biggest names.

“OK, I’m going to shock you,” Kelly said on Tuesday’s episode of her show, according to The Hill. “I think he should do it. I actually think he should do it.”

“First of all, it’s not a dealbreaker that he has spent his life as a journalist. I mean, you could absolutely parlay that into a career in public service.”

An Endorsement With An Edge

Kelly’s encouragement quickly became a pointed assessment of the politicians Lemon might hope to join.

She questioned whether former Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Joe Biden had demonstrated greater intelligence than the former CNN anchor. She also suggested Lemon could hold his own against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Mediaite reported.

“Are we so enamored with our public officials now we don’t think somebody like Don Lemon could do it? Honestly, I’m not,” Kelly said, according to The Hill.

Her enthusiasm also came with an acknowledgment that a Lemon campaign would provide plenty of material for the people covering it.

“I encourage him and I’m rooting for him. He doesn’t actually think he’s going to win, however,” she added.

That makes her remarks something more complicated than a straightforward political endorsement: encouragement for Lemon to enter the race, delivered alongside digs at Democrats and anticipation of the spectacle.

Lemon Leaves The Door Open

The discussion followed Lemon’s Oct. 3 appearance on “Uncloseted” with Spencer Macnaughton, where he described viewers asking whether he would consider running for office.

“If the people want me, I’ll do it,” Lemon said.

He acknowledged that a presidential campaign would require a full-time commitment and said he still wanted to devote much of his time to journalism. He nevertheless raised the possibility of combining his media work with a campaign.

There is a significant distinction behind the 2028 chatter: Macnaughton asked about the chances Lemon would run at some point in his lifetime. Lemon’s estimate of 65% to 70% was not a firm commitment to the next presidential election.

Lemon also said he believed Americans could elect a gay Black president, while expressing doubts about whether the current political moment was right for such a candidacy.

The former CNN host, who launched his own show after the network fired him in 2023, has yet to turn that speculation into an announced campaign.

But he already has one unlikely voice urging him toward the starting line.

Trump’s Ballroom Megadonors Revealed — And The White House Wants The Leaker

By
Madeleine Jackson
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Some of America’s biggest companies are helping bankroll President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom — and newly revealed records show the size of their commitments.

Apple, Nvidia, the Adelson family and Dish Network co-founder Charles Ergen each committed $25 million, according to a Washington Post investigation published Thursday.

The report, also covered by Mediaite, cites an internal fundraising spreadsheet documenting more than $300 million in contributions and commitments.

The revelations add fuel to a dispute Democrats have been pursuing for months: whether companies with business before the administration are using donations to a presidential priority to gain access or influence.

The White House denies improper influence and says private donors are sparing taxpayers the construction bill.

Who’s Footing The Bill?

The reported donor list includes technology giants, defense contractors, Republican megadonors and people connected to senior administration officials.

Among the largest reported contributions and commitments:

DonorReported Amount
Apple$25 million
Nvidia$25 million
Adelson family$25 million
Charles Ergen$25 million
Google$22 million
Laura & Isaac Perlmutter FoundationMore than $20 million
Lockheed Martin$10 million
Microsoft$10 million
RHI II LLC$10 million
Palantir Technologies$10 million
Comcast$7.5 million
Amazon, Cisco, Meta and T-Mobile$5 million each

Google’s contribution stems from the settlement of Trump’s lawsuit over YouTube’s suspension of his account following the January 6 Capitol riot, according to the reporting.

Other contributors include Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler and her husband, who committed $5 million, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s son Brandon, whose contribution was approximately $2.5 million.

Why Democrats Are Raising Alarms

For Democratic critics, the issue extends beyond the ballroom’s price tag. It concerns the overlap between its benefactors and companies seeking federal contracts, regulatory approvals or favorable outcomes in enforcement cases.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Rep. Dave Min, D-Calif., previously questioned corporate donors about whether any agreements or expectations of government favors accompanied their contributions. Their inquiry also sought information about how donations were solicited and the amounts involved.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., has separately pressed previously undisclosed donors about why their contributions remained secret and whether Trump or his representatives offered anything in exchange. Those inquiries predate Thursday’s revelations.

Donor anonymity is another sticking point. In February, Warren and other Democratic senators reported that the Trust for the National Mall, which handles ballroom donations, declined to release identifying donor information, citing federal disclosure rules. Democrats argue that limited disclosure makes potential conflicts harder to scrutinize.

According to the Post’s reporting, as summarized by Mediaite, approximately half the contributors had federal contracts during Trump’s second term. The reporting does not establish that donations secured favorable treatment.

Ergen’s contributions have drawn particular scrutiny because part of his commitment followed Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr’s decision to drop an investigation involving Dish’s parent company, according to the Post.

The timing has fueled questions about potential conflicts, but it does not by itself establish an exchange of donations for government action.

White House Pushes Back

Trump has said he and private supporters would pay for the project. The Post reported that his name did not appear on the contributor list it obtained.

White House spokesman Davis Ingle rejected the criticism and vowed to identify whoever disclosed the records.

The administration will “relentlessly pursue those responsible for this cowardly leak while continuing to protect all those who give,” Ingle told the Post.

“The same critics who are alleging fake conflicts of interests, would also complain if American taxpayers were footing the bill for these long-overdue renovations,” he said.

Trump Reportedly Weighs Replacing Susie Wiles As White House Pushes Back

By
Madeleine Jackson
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President Donald Trump takes questions after signing Executive Orders, Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok) President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders, Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

President Donald Trump is reportedly considering replacing White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles — raising questions about the future of one of his most trusted aides less than three weeks before the midterm elections.

Four people with direct knowledge of the conversations told Politico’s Playbook that Trump has been asking friends and political allies about Wiles’ performance and floating potential successors, Mediaite reported Thursday.

Trump forcefully rejected the report, calling it “TOTAL FAKE NEWS” and insisting Wiles retains his “COMPLETE confidence.”

The reported discussions come as Republicans fight to preserve their congressional majorities and Trump grows frustrated with his political standing, according to Playbook. The report describes private conversations about a possible change, rather than an announced decision to remove Wiles.

Familiar Names Surface

Among the names Trump has reportedly floated are Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and New York Yankees President Randy Levine.

Other potential replacements mentioned in the report include Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Wiles’ critics have sought to capitalize on the moment by forwarding unfavorable coverage involving the chief of staff and people close to her, according to Playbook.

“She’s burned a lot of people,” one Republican operative close to the White House told the newsletter.

But the White House dismissed the anonymous accounts. Spokesperson Danielle Alvarez said the sources “know nothing,” describing the administration as a “united team focused on his America First agenda – not the egos and political games of anonymous outsiders.”

Trump also defended Wiles’ loyalty and tenure in his statement to Playbook.

“Susie Wiles is my loyal and longest serving Chief of Staff — there is a reason for that,” he said.

Consulting Work Draws Scrutiny

The speculation follows scrutiny of foreign consulting and lobbying work involving members of Wiles’ political circle, including longtime Trump advisers James Blair and Chris LaCivita, as well as her daughter, Katie Wiles.

The Financial Times reported that Katie Wiles is a partner at Continental Strategy, a lobbying firm with a $35,000-a-month contract to represent Republika Srpska, the Bosnian Serb entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The firm said Katie Wiles did not lobby U.S. officials on the client’s behalf. Her role, according to the newspaper, involved communications support for a feasibility study.

A Central Figure In Trump’s Operation

Wiles helped guide Trump’s return to the White House before becoming chief of staff at the beginning of his second term.

She also remains involved in the president’s midterm strategy. The Washington Post reported Monday that Wiles, White House political director Matt Brasseaux and Blair, now an outside adviser, have worked together to determine where Trump can be most useful on the campaign trail.

The latest political scrutiny follows a difficult personal year. Wiles continued working while receiving treatment for breast cancer after her diagnosis became public in March. On September 16, she announced that pathology results from the Mayo Clinic had come back clear and that she was cancer-free.

New Memo Details Republican Data Trove Obtained By Biden DOJ

By
Madeleine Jackson
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1
Joe Biden via Gage Skidmore Flickr

The Biden Justice Department’s investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election swept up personal information on more than 639,000 Republican voters, donors and supporters, according to a new memo first obtained by Fox News Digital.

The memo, from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), alleges that former special counsel Jack Smith’s office obtained spreadsheets containing extensive personal and financial information — including records associated with ordinary Americans making small-dollar political donations.

The findings mark the latest development in Grassley’s investigation into the scope of the Arctic Frost probe, which began in 2022 and examined efforts to overturn the election results.

According to the memo quoted by Fox News Digital, Smith’s office and the DOJ “obtained spreadsheets containing Republican campaign donors, supporters, and detailed personal voter information in various formats, totaling over 639,000 individuals, at minimum.”

“Out of those, over 148,000 rows are identified in the spreadsheets as donors,” Grassley wrote. “The donors generally contributed small-dollar amounts.”

Personal Details Beyond Donation Totals

The information went well beyond names and contribution amounts.

According to Fox News Digital’s reporting, the records included dates of birth, home and email addresses, Republican registration status, occupations, employers, credit card information and donor analysis data.

The occupations listed included retirees, pool technicians, drivers and loggers.

In a separate statement released Wednesday, Grassley’s office said the credit card information included the last four digits of card numbers. Some contributions were as small as $1, and the earliest donation captured dated to 2005, according to his office.

Grassley argued that the collection exceeded what Smith needed to carry out his assignment.

“This update shows that Jack Smith and the Biden Justice Department collected incredibly invasive donor data — and voter data — beyond what could conceivably be necessary for him or his team to fulfill the [special counsel office’s] mandate,” Grassley said, according to Fox News Digital.

He further accused Smith’s team of seeking to map the Republican Party’s broader political network.

“I again call on my Democratic colleagues to join my oversight work instead of trying to defend Smith and sweep his abuse of authority under the rug,” Grassley said.

Those allegations concern the purpose and scope of the investigation; Smith has defended his team’s collection of financial records as part of its criminal inquiry.

Smith Defends Subpoenas

The memo follows an earlier Grassley disclosure concerning checks collected from nearly 5,000 Americans who donated to Trump and Trump-aligned Republican entities.

During Smith’s appearance before the Judiciary Committee last month, Grassley pressed him for a yes-or-no answer about whether investigators had gathered donor information.

“Yes,” Smith responded, according to the testimony quoted by Fox News Digital. “We acquired financial information.”

“As I sit here right now, I cannot recite to you every subpoena we issued. I can tell you why we issued subpoenas,” Smith continued. “And it was to conduct a criminal investigation of one of the most serious crimes that’s ever happened in our nation’s history. I had a duty to collect facts.”

Trump Tells Alaska Republican To Drop Out—But Candidate Pushes Back

By
Madeleine Jackson
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President Donald J. Trump hosts a Rose Garden Club dinner in honor of Police Week in the White House Rose Garden, Monday, May 11, 2026. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

President Donald Trump is pressing former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson to leave Alaska’s governor’s race, warning that a crowded Republican field could hand Democrats an opening in November.

Speaking with Fox News after his Tuesday rally in Wasilla, Trump urged Bronson to step aside for Bernadette Wilson, the Republican candidate he endorsed earlier that day.

“He doesn’t have to, but he should, because, frankly, he lost in the primary by substantial numbers to Bernadette,” Trump told Fox News.

Wilson finished as the top Republican in Alaska’s August primary. She now faces Bronson, fellow Republican Treg Taylor and Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins in the contest to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

Trump made clear that he sees the three-way Republican competition as a liability.

“So now you have three Republicans running against one Democrat. And I don’t like that. I don’t like those odds very much,” he told Fox News.

“But there, she’s great, and maybe she’ll get in, but I thought I had an obligation to endorse her.”

A Disputed Deal To Step Aside

Trump’s call for Bronson to withdraw followed a sharper accusation on Truth Social: that the former mayor had already agreed to leave the race, then reversed course.

According to the Alaska Beacon, Trump claimed Bronson sought his endorsement and agreed to withdraw at the president’s request, only to abandon that commitment three days later.

Bronson disputed that account.

Speaking with Alaska’s News Source at the rally, Bronson said the president’s recollection was “different from mine.”

Bronson described discussions about consolidating the Republican field, including a proposal that Trump endorse him and ask his rivals to stand down. He said the arrangement never came together.

“The deal didn’t unfold the way it was supposed to, so I stayed in the race,” Bronson told the station.

Why Three Republicans Are Still Running

Alaska’s election system helps explain the crowded field.

The state holds a nonpartisan primary in which the top four candidates advance regardless of party. Wilson’s position as the leading Republican therefore did not eliminate Bronson or Taylor—or make her the sole Republican nominee.

The general election uses ranked-choice voting. Voters can rank multiple candidates, allowing their votes to transfer to another choice if their preferred candidate is eliminated. That means three Republicans on the ballot do not automatically produce the same vote-splitting problem as a traditional plurality election.

The political concern is whether Republican voters will use those additional rankings.

The Alaska Beacon reported that Bronson and Taylor have encouraged voters to rank all three Republicans. Dunleavy also urged support for the Republican candidates at Tuesday’s rally, while Trump pushed for unity behind Wilson and backed repeal of the state’s election system.

The pressure comes as the race grows more competitive. Cook Political Report moved Alaska’s governor’s contest from “Toss Up” to “Lean Democrat” on Tuesday, according to additional reporting from The Washington Post.

Kimberly Guilfoyle Asked To Resign As Ambassador To Greece

By
Madeleine Jackson
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0

President Donald Trump has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign as U.S. ambassador to Greece, moving to push out a longtime political ally and his eldest son’s former fiancée amid mounting allegations involving money, access and her conduct overseas.

New White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia announced the decision Tuesday during her first briefing.

“We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign,” Zacharia said. “She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well.”

The announcement followed Trump’s blunt assessment Monday when reporters asked whether he was considering firing Guilfoyle.

“We’re looking at it. We’re not happy,” the president said.

A Six-Figure Credit Card Request

The controversy escalated after The Wall Street Journal reported that Guilfoyle asked Trump donor Eric Deters to wire $100,000 directly to American Express before her Senate confirmation hearing last year.

“It won’t show up anywhere if you wire money to American Express,” she allegedly wrote on Signal, according to messages reviewed by the newspaper.

The Journal reported that Deters was seeking help with tax and legal matters and that Guilfoyle had communicated with administration officials on his behalf.

Deters subsequently told ABC News that he understood the request as an exchange of money for access to senior Trump officials. He said he did not make the payment.

Guilfoyle’s attorney disputed the messages’ authenticity and suggested the requested money could have represented reimbursement for travel and speaking expenses. Deters denied owing her money.

Deep Ties To The Trump Family

Guilfoyle’s relationship with the Trumps extended well beyond politics.

The former Fox News personality began dating Donald Trump Jr. in 2018, and the couple became engaged in 2020. Their split became public in late 2024, around the time Trump selected her for the diplomatic post.

Announcing that selection in December 2024, Trump described Guilfoyle as “a close friend and ally.”

She also helped lead fundraising for Trump’s 2020 campaign, becoming a familiar figure in his political operation.

Scrutiny Beyond The Donor Allegations

The credit card controversy followed questions about Guilfoyle’s activities in Athens.

In an October 1 letter, House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking Democrat Gregory Meeks asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to address reports that Guilfoyle promoted a Greek company’s commercial interests and included its paid lobbyist in official diplomatic meetings.

Meeks also cited reporting that she suggested Washington could use its influence to undermine Greece’s government, calling for her removal if the allegations were accurate.

A separate Journal report described a recording from Davos in which Guilfoyle allegedly said wealthy Greek businessmen were financing her travels. Her lawyers have denied wrongdoing and said her travel received State Department approval, according to the Financial Times.

Tuesday’s announcement confirmed that the White House had requested her resignation. It did not establish that she had submitted it or specify an effective departure date.

The Last Republican President? Trump Makes Grim Prediction

By
Madeleine Jackson
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The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

President Donald Trump delivered a stark warning to Republicans Monday night: Lose Congress, then the White House, and the GOP could be locked out of the presidency for good.

Speaking at a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, Trump argued that Democrats would use a return to power to reshape Congress, expand the Supreme Court and tilt the electoral map against Republicans.

“I will be the last Republican president because they will add about twelve more electoral votes,” Trump said, according to The Hill.

“They’ll add four more senators. They’ll add ten more congresspeople, approximately,” he continued. “They’re gonna rig the Supreme Court through just a lot of people.”

His warning stretched beyond November’s midterms. Trump was describing a scenario in which Democrats control both chambers of Congress and reclaim the White House in 2028, Mediaite reported.

Trump Takes Aim At Court Expansion

Trump claimed Democrats’ ambitions for the Supreme Court go much further than the 13-seat expansion proposal backed by some party lawmakers.

“The real number that they dream of is 23,” Trump said, according to The Hill. “They say 13. Who wants 13?”

A 23-member court would mean adding 14 seats to the existing nine-member bench.

Democratic lawmakers have previously introduced legislation to expand the court to 13 justices. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) unveiled the Judiciary Act of 2023, arguing that expansion would restore the court’s legitimacy.

That proposal called for four additional seats. Trump’s claim that Democrats ultimately want 23 justices goes beyond the legislation those lawmakers put forward.

A Warning To His Own Party

Trump previously linked the same warning to D.C. and Puerto Rico statehood in September, Fox News reported.

On Monday, he also renewed his demand that Republicans eliminate the Senate filibuster to advance the SAVE Act, according to Mediaite. The outlet reported that the House-passed measure would require proof of citizenship when registering to vote and photo identification when voting, but lacks the 60 votes needed to advance in the Senate.

The president made his pitch while campaigning for Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) and Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy. Husted faces former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in a closely contested Senate race, Mediaite reported.

Both Husted and Ramaswamy have leaned on Trump to energize Republican voters, The Hill reported, even after his victories in Ohio in three consecutive presidential elections.

With November approaching, Trump is casting the stakes as bigger than congressional control: He says Republicans’ ability to win the White House again is on the line.

Trump And Rubio Weigh Guilfoyle’s Future As Donor Allegations Mount

By
Madeleine Jackson
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0
(Miami - Flórida, 09/03/2020) Presidente da República Jair Bolsonaro durante encontro com o Senador Marco Rubio..Foto: Alan Santos/PR

Kimberly Guilfoyle’s diplomatic career could be headed for an abrupt exit amid allegations that she asked a Trump donor to cover a six-figure credit card bill while offering help securing access to administration officials.

President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are reportedly considering removing the U.S. ambassador to Greece as questions mount over her financial dealings and conduct in Athens.

Fox News reported Sunday that a senior U.S. official described Trump and Rubio as “extremely pissed off,” citing an Associated Press report. The official said a decision would likely come this week after Monday’s Columbus Day holiday. No dismissal has been confirmed.

CNN separately reported that Trump is weighing Guilfoyle’s removal, citing a person familiar with the matter who said the president has been monitoring the allegations and is expected to decide soon.

The Credit Card Request

At the center of the controversy is a Wall Street Journal investigation into Guilfoyle’s communications with Eric Deters, a Trump donor and former Kentucky congressional candidate.

According to messages reviewed by the Journal, Guilfoyle asked Deters to send $100,000 directly to American Express shortly before her Senate confirmation hearing. She allegedly presented the arrangement as a way to avoid a visible paper trail while offering assistance reaching senior administration officials.

Deters said he never made the payment. Guilfoyle’s attorney, Jesse Binnall, disputed the authenticity of the messages, according to Fox News.

Her legal team also offered an explanation for the financial dispute. In a statement to CNN, her lawyers said Deters owed Guilfoyle money for speeches and consulting work performed before she entered public service. They characterized her efforts as collecting outstanding payments and rejected his accusations.

“Asking a client to pay for work already done is not corruption,” her lawyers told CNN.

Questions About Her Conduct In Greece

The donor allegations follow scrutiny of Guilfoyle’s dealings with Greek construction and energy company Aktor Group.

As detailed in the Fox News article, an earlier Journal investigation reported that Guilfoyle promoted the company’s interests and brought its registered lobbyist, Christos Marafatsos, into private diplomatic meetings with senior officials.

The Journal also alleged that Guilfoyle suggested during a dinner with Greek officials that Washington could undermine their government. That account is disputed: Greece’s foreign minister said there was no need to summon her for an explanation because the country’s energy minister denied that a threat had been made.

NBC News reported Friday that the State Department’s Office of Inspector General is investigating Guilfoyle and the embassy she leads, citing two people familiar with the decision.

Fox News, citing the Daily Mail, described additional allegations involving embassy employees, private travel, gifts and business relationships. Those claims included threats to fire staff and demotions of security personnel over minor incidents.

The inspector general’s office declined to confirm or deny an investigation. Binnall told the Daily Mail that “any implication of wrongdoing by the Ambassador is unsupported,” according to Fox News.

Public Defense, Private Deliberations

Rubio publicly defended Guilfoyle’s performance during his visit to Greece last week.

“Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here,” he said Wednesday, according to Fox News. The following day, he pushed back on reporters treating anonymously sourced allegations as established facts.

Vice President JD Vance also urged caution Friday while leaving open the possibility of consequences.

“Let’s actually see what the facts are. Let’s see what the truth is,” Vance told reporters in Ohio, according to Fox News. He added that misconduct, if established, should carry consequences.

Congressional Democrats, including Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, have called for a review. Meeks urged Guilfoyle’s removal if the allegations are substantiated, Fox News reported.

Trump nominated Guilfoyle, a former prosecutor, Fox News personality and campaign fundraiser, in December 2024—the same month her split from Donald Trump Jr. became public.

Now, the former fiancée of the president’s eldest son faces an uncertain future in an administration whose senior leaders are reportedly weighing whether she should remain in Athens.

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