When Eric Deters canceled his MAGA Freedom Fest in September after selling just six $1,000 VIP tickets, the decision appeared to mark an embarrassing end to a Kentucky political gathering. Three weeks later, President Donald Trump’s ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, resigned. Guilfoyle's resignation comes following multiple 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 all allegations of wrongdoing, and her lawyers told Newsweek on Tuesday that Guilfoyle served in office with "integrity, honor and distinction." Newsweek has reached out to the White House and a lawyer for Eric Deters via email for comment. Deters, 63, is a Kentucky businessman, former trial lawyer, conservative broadcaster and unsuccessful Republican candidate. A significant part of his legal career involved representing former patients of fugitive surgeon Atiq Durrani.
The litigation eventually became central to his falling-out with Guilfoyle when Deters sought her help securing federal attention for Durrani’s extradition and related legal and insurance disputes. Deters has supported Trump since the beginning of his 2016 campaign, serving as the campaign’s Northern Kentucky chairman during the Republican primary. By 2021, he had launched Freedom Fest, marketed as a free pro-Trump event with an inaugural lineup including Guilfoyle and conservative commentator Tomi Lahren.
The festival expanded in 2022, when Guilfoyle appeared alongside Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Candace Owens and other prominent conservative figures. According to Deters, he has met President Trump five times, including at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A series of messages and photographs connect him with the president and key MAGA figures including Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Kash Patel, Guilfoyle and others over the last decade.
The relationship between Deters and Guilfoyle was also financial. Deters says he paid Guilfoyle about $300,000 for speaking appearances over several years, while also paying other members of the Trump family to attend his events. Guilfoyle’s attorneys later said some money remained outstanding.
Deters denied that claim. In September 2026, Deters announced on Facebook that he would "never ever, ever, ever, ever" host his Freedom Fest event again, canceling the planned 2026 festival that was set to include Kid Rock, Republican Ed Gallrein, Representative James Comer and Fox News contributor Joe Concha. Deters blamed a lack of VIP ticket sales, explaining that he had expected around 100 affluent acquaintances and business contacts to help support the event by purchasing $1,000 VIP tickets, but when he learned that just six had been sold, he was unable to fund it.
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