Eric Deters’ Canceled Event and Guilfoyle Resignation

When Eric Deters canceled his MAGA Freedom Fest in September after selling only six $1,000 VIP tickets, it seemed like the end of a political gathering in Kentucky. Three weeks later, Kimberly Guilfoyle, who had served as President Donald Trump’s ambassador to Greece, resigned. Guilfoyle faced allegations from Deters involving years of private messages, disputed financial demands, and alleged offers of access to senior figures in the Trump administration. She denies these allegations, with her lawyers stating she served with “integrity, honor and distinction.” Newsweek has contacted the White House and a lawyer for Eric Deters for comment.

Who Is Eric Deters?

Eric Deters, 63, is a businessman from Kentucky, a former trial lawyer, a conservative broadcaster, and an unsuccessful Republican candidate. A notable part of his legal career involved cases against fugitive surgeon Atiq Durrani. Deters sought Guilfoyle’s help to gain federal attention for Durrani’s extradition and related legal and insurance issues.

Deters has supported Trump since his 2016 campaign, serving as the Northern Kentucky chairman during the Republican primary. By 2021, he launched Freedom Fest, a pro-Trump event featuring Guilfoyle and commentator Tomi Lahren. The festival expanded in 2022, with figures like Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Candace Owens in attendance.

Deters claims to have met President Trump five times, including at Mar-a-Lago. Messages and photos indicate connections with President Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Kash Patel, Guilfoyle, and others over a decade. The relationship between Deters and Guilfoyle was also financial. Deters states he paid Guilfoyle around $300,000 over several years for speaking engagements and paid other Trump family members to attend his events. Guilfoyle’s attorneys later claimed some money from Deters was owed, which he denied.

Freedom Fest Flop Prompts Deters to Speak Up

In September 2026, Deters announced on Facebook his decision to permanently cancel the Freedom Fest event. He blamed a lack of VIP ticket sales, having expected about 100 affluent supporters to buy $1,000 tickets, but only six were sold. Unable to fund the event, Deters expressed his frustration over the lack of support from both media and the Trump administration for Durrani’s victims. He threatened to provide media with “a real anti-Trump story,” accusing Guilfoyle of being “a wicked grifter.”

Guilfoyle Resigns Amid Allegations

Deters provided texts and Signal messages documenting his relationship with Guilfoyle to news organizations. One exchange under scrutiny allegedly took place in July 2025, before her Senate confirmation hearing. Deters claimed Guilfoyle requested $100,000 towards her American Express account, suggesting to wire the money to American Express directly and implying it “won’t show up anywhere.” Deters refused the payment, citing concerns about his marriage, labeling the arrangement as a “quid pro quo” for federal action against Durrani.

Messages appeared to show Guilfoyle discussing her access to influential figures and advising Deters against creating a written record of their dealings. Guilfoyle’s lawyers claimed they had not seen the original messages and could not verify them. The Wall Street Journal reported on October 8 about Deters’ messages, indicating Guilfoyle offered to use her connections to assist with his tax and legal issues. Her attorney claimed any money sought represented unpaid fees for legitimate work before her nomination.

As reports emerged of internal unrest within the Trump administration, an unnamed U.S. official mentioned Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were “extremely upset” over the allegations. The State Department’s inspector general reportedly examined if Guilfoyle used her position for gifts or favors, though a formal investigation status was unclear.

President Trump said the administration was “not happy” while examining the matter. White House press secretary Katie Zacharia announced Guilfoyle’s resignation during her first conference. Guilfoyle confirmed her departure, describing her service in Greece as “the honor of a lifetime.” She denied the allegations, vowed to defend her reputation, and stated she would not let false accusations define her service.

Who Is Dr. Atiq Durrani?

Dr. Atiq Durrani is a former orthopedic spine surgeon from the Cincinnati area wanted on federal health care fraud charges. He ran the Center for Advanced Spine Technologies in Ohio and Kentucky. Prosecutors allege he conducted unnecessary spinal surgeries, misrepresented conditions as emergencies, filed false claims to insurers, and made false medical record statements. A federal grand jury indicted Durrani in 2013, but he has not faced trial. After his December 2013 departure to Pakistan while awaiting trial, he remains a fugitive.