How Cancellation of MAGA Fest Led to Kimberly Guilfoyle's Downfall

After selling only six VIP tickets, Eric Deters canceled his MAGA Freedom Fest in September 2026, marking a disappointing end to the Kentucky political gathering. This decision was followed three weeks later by Kimberly Guilfoyle's resignation as President Donald Trump's ambassador to Greece. Guilfoyle denied all allegations of wrongdoing and her lawyers stated that she served with integrity, honor and distinction.

A significant aspect of Deters' legal career involved representing patients of a defunct surgeon, Atiq Durrani, and he sought Guilfoyle's assistance to gain federal attention for Durrani's extradition and related legal issues. Deters, who supported Trump since his 2016 campaign, launched the Freedom Fest in 2021 as a pro-Trump event and expanded it in 2022.

Both Deters and Guilfoyle were connected through numerous messages and photographs over the past decade, with Deters reportedly paying Guilfoyle around $300,000 for speaking engagements and other Trump family members attending his events. In September 2026, Deters announced he would never host the Freedom Fest again, citing low ticket sales.

Newsweek reported on the cancellation, leading Deters to accuse Guilfoyle of being a "wicked grifter" and providing her with texts and Signal messages documenting their long-term relationship. The most scrutinized exchange allegedly occurred in July 2025, where Guilfoyle allegedly asked Deters for $100,000 to pay her American Express account, which he refused to provide, alleging it would jeopardize his marriage and be a quid pro quo for her help in his campaign against Durrani's extradition.

The allegations were made public on October 8, 2026, when The Wall Street Journal published the messages obtained from Deters. The reports suggested that Guilfoyle had used her connections to assist with Deters' tax and legal problems and claimed administration officials responded to her. White House officials, including President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressed their displeasure with the allegations, leading to Guilfoyle's resignation as ambassador.