Vice President JD Vance said Thursday he did not know enough about reports that Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle allegedly pleaded with a Trump donor to cover $100,000 in American Express debt to weigh in on the matter.
The allegations were first reported Thursday by The Wall Street Journal, and the story was quickly picked up by major national news outlets.
During a press conference Thursday, a reporter asked Vance, “Do you have any reaction to a U.S. government official asking someone to pay off debt and exchange to get access to other government officials?”
“Well, so, with that hypothetical…obviously I don’t love that,” Vance responded. “But I, you know, I don’t know exactly who you’re talking about. I don’t know the full details.”
The vice president cautioned against commenting on such stories in the abstract.
“What I find with these stories is you never want to comment in a purely abstract way because a lot of times the details really matter. And the details and the context inform the reality of the situation,” he said.
Vance went on to say he does not approve of anyone selling access to government officials, but stopped short of passing judgment on the specific case.
“So, of course, I don’t like anybody selling access to another government official. Certainly a high-level government official,” Vance said. “But, you know, I assume you’re talking about a specific case and I can’t say with confidence that the case you’re talking about is actually reflective of the way you’re describing it.”
“No insult to you, by the way. But context really matters on this stuff,” he added. “So, I’d like to get the full story before offering a real opinion.”
Vance closed his answer with what he described as advice for those in public office.
“A good lesson for a politician is never speak about something you don’t have the full facts on, and I just don’t have the full facts on that one,” he said.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Guilfoyle asked Trump donor Eric Deters for the money shortly before her Senate confirmation hearing. Background checks conducted as part of the confirmation process routinely look into a nominee’s debts.
At the time, Deters was seeking Guilfoyle’s help with tax and legal issues. But he told the Journal that “she never came through on anything.”
In Signal messages reviewed by the Journal, Guilfoyle allegedly urged Deters to send the money directly to the credit card company.
“It won’t show up anywhere if you wire money to American Express. Please,” Guilfoyle allegedly wrote.
She also made Deters a promise in the messages, according to the report.
“I will be your Trump ride or die, forever and ever,” she allegedly wrote.
Deters ultimately declined to pay the bill.
Guilfoyle’s attorney has questioned whether the Signal messages are authentic.
The report has drawn national attention to the ambassador, though Vance made clear Thursday that he intends to hold off on offering a real opinion until he has the full story.
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