In September, Eric Deters decided to cancel his MAGA Freedom Fest after achieving low sales of VIP tickets. Only six $1,000 VIP tickets were sold, marking a setback for this political event in Kentucky. Shortly after, Kimberly Guilfoyle, who served as President Trump’s ambassador to Greece, resigned from her position.
Guilfoyle’s resignation was linked with numerous allegations from Deters. These included years of private communications, disputed financial requests, and alleged offers to access senior Trump administration officials. Guilfoyle denied any wrongdoing, with her lawyers asserting that she served with integrity and honor. Newsweek reached out for comments from both the White House and a lawyer representing Eric Deters.
Who Is Eric Deters?
Eric Deters, 63, is a businessman from Kentucky, formerly a trial lawyer, a conservative broadcaster, and an unsuccessful Republican candidate. Throughout his legal career, he represented former patients of Atiq Durrani, a surgeon on the run. This legal matter was pivotal in the discord between Deters and Guilfoyle when Deters sought her assistance in getting federal attention on Durrani’s extradition and associated legal disputes.
Deters has shown support for Trump since the 2016 campaign, acting as the Northern Kentucky chairman during the Republican primary. By 2021, he launched Freedom Fest, a free pro-Trump event. The inaugural event featured Guilfoyle and conservative commentator Tomi Lahren. The 2022 lineup expanded with appearances from Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and others.
Deters claims to have met President Trump five times, including visits to Mar-a-Lago. His connections include interactions with major Trump figures such as Guilfoyle and others over a decade.
Deters also described a financial relationship with Guilfoyle. He alleged payments totaling about $300,000 to Guilfoyle for speaking engagements, while also compensating other Trump family members for event appearances. Guilfoyle’s lawyers contended that some payments were still owed, a claim Deters refuted.
Freedom Fest Cancellation
In September 2026, Deters publicly declared on Facebook that he was permanently canceling Freedom Fest. He announced that the 2026 festival would not proceed, an event that planned to feature Kid Rock and other notable conservative figures like Joe Concha and Representative James Comer.
He attributed the festival’s cancellation to poor VIP ticket sales, expecting about 100 affluent acquaintances to support the event but selling only six. This inability to sell VIP tickets hindered funding prospects.
Following the cancellation, Newsweek reported Deters’ criticism of the Trump administration and the media for insufficient support concerning Durrani’s victims. Deters voiced intentions to provide the media with substantial anti-Trump material, framing Guilfoyle as a “wicked grifter.”
Guilfoyle’s Resignation Amid Allegations
Deters provided evidence, including texts and Signal messages, that chronicled his interaction with Guilfoyle. The communications most closely examined occurred close to Guilfoyle’s Senate confirmation hearing in July 2025. Deters alleged Guilfoyle requested $100,000 for her American Express account. One Signal message reportedly involved Guilfoyle’s instructions to wire money in a manner that remained undisclosed.
Deters declined the request, citing potential risk to his marriage, interpreting the situation as a “quid pro quo” for assistance in his campaign against Durrani.
Earlier messages suggested Guilfoyle utilized her influence with key figures and cautioned Deters against maintaining documented exchanges.
News organizations made these allegations public on October 8, when The Wall Street Journal discussed the messages provided by Deters. Guilfoyle allegedly proposed leveraging her connections to help Deters with his legal troubles. Her attorney contended any financial requests attributed to Deters corresponded to unpaid professional fees prior to her nomination.
During mounting scrutiny of Guilfoyle’s ambassador role, allegations included concerns over privately funded commuting and business promotions. Reports signaled dissatisfaction in the Trump administration. An anonymous U.S. official described President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as “extremely displeased” by the accusations. The State Department’s inspector general was reportedly inspecting whether Guilfoyle had utilized her position inappropriately, although no formal investigation had been confirmed.
President Trump acknowledged ongoing reviews of the situation and expressed displeasure with the revelations. Subsequently, White House press secretary Katie Zacharia confirmed Guilfoyle’s resignation, praising her as a valuable team member.
An hour later, Guilfoyle released a statement confirming her resignation and refuting the allegations against her. She stated her service in Greece was a profound honor and asserted her intention to defend her reputation.
Who Is Dr. Atiq Durrani?
Dr. Atiq Durrani, an orthopedic spine surgeon from Cincinnati, faces federal health care fraud charges. His Center for Advanced Spine Technologies operated clinics in Ohio and Kentucky. Federal accusations claim he convinced patients to undergo unnecessary spinal procedures, misrepresented some conditions as emergencies, submitted false claims to insurers, and falsified medical records.
A 2013 federal grand jury charged Durrani with several counts of health care fraud and making false statements. Although charged, he has yet to face trial. Durrani was apprehended in July 2013 but released pending trial. He left the U.S. for Pakistan in December 2013 and has not returned, remaining a fugitive of the law.
Newsweek developed this article using its AI assistant, Martyn. For inquiries, contact Newsweek editors John Fitzpatrick and Tony Phillips.
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