Scott Jennings calls Guilfoyle's reported texts extremely unseemly
Scott JenningsCNN senior political commentator, on CNN's The Arena with Kasie Hunt
On CNN, commentator Scott Jennings said the text messages reported by the Journal were extremely unseemly and had to be investigated, though they might not be illegal, and said Guilfoyle should consider what to tell Trump and Rubio about her future.
“it's extremely unseemly, these text messages. There's no other way to read it. Again, may not be illegal. Has to be investigated. ... But if I were in her shoes right now, I would be considering what I wanted to tell the president, the secretary of state about my future because When you're in an appointed position like this and you hold a position of trust with the government, and then you become a distraction or an embarrassment to your principals, that's a problem.”
Original text
Where this statement fits
Eric Deters alleges Kimberly Guilfoyle offered administration access for $100,000; she denies it
Eric Deters, a Kentucky businessman and Trump donor, alleges that Kimberly Guilfoyle asked him in July 2025 to pay her $100,000 American Express bill while offering to help him reach senior Trump administration officials. The Wall Street Journal reported the allegation on October 7, 2026, citing messages Deters provided in which Guilfoyle asked him to wire the money. Deters says he did not pay and calls the exchange a quid pro quo. Guilfoyle's lawyers say Deters owed her about $150,000 for speeches and consulting work done before her nomination and that she was trying to collect it. Guilfoyle, who resigned as U.S. ambassador to Greece on October 13, 2026 at the White House's request, says the allegations are false.
Source and context
Original text
About this source
CNN transcript of The Arena with Kasie Hunt, aired 4 to 5 p.m. ET on October 8, 2026, which opened with a panel discussion of the Journal report on Guilfoyle and Deters.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Kasie Hunt opened the program with the Journal report and asked Jennings how Guilfoyle's request for money, made while suggesting she could offer something in return, would go over in Trump's circle. Jennings first said he would pass before answering.
After the quotation
Jennings said he expected the State Department to look into the matter and called that fair. Another panelist, Lulu Garcia-Navarro, said the messages were deeply problematic if true.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is Eric Deters's allegation that Kimberly Guilfoyle, shortly before her July 2025 Senate confirmation hearing, asked him to pay her $100,000 American Express bill while offering to help him reach senior Trump administration officials. Condemned: Jennings calls the messages "extremely unseemly" and says "There's no other way to read it." The closest competing label is Mixed or conditional; it loses because his remark that the conduct "may not be illegal" and needs investigation concerns legality and process, not his negative judgment of the messages.
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- Kimberly Guilfoyle
More from this case
Read the full caseGuilfoyle calls the allegations against her false as she leaves her post
“I also want to address the recent allegations against me. These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity. I have dedicated my professional life to fighting for justice, standing up for what is right, and defending the values that make America exceptional. I will not allow false accusations to define my decades of public service.”Read statement
Trump says he did not like what he read about Guilfoyle
“She went to Greece. She was doing a good job, but we didn't like what we were reading. ... I didn't speak to her, no. But she will not be there. I didn't like what I read.”Read statement
Jeff Flake says he is floored by the messages attributed to Guilfoyle
“Well. it's not good. ... I just am floored that he'd have those kinds of messages telling somebody to not leave a paper trail when she's leaving a paper trail. So, this is just not good. ... Well, you just heard from the man who was supposed to have sent those invoices. So, yes, or she sent those invoices too, and he's claiming the opposite. So, I don't think that will go very far.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Scott Jennings calls Guilfoyle's reported texts extremely unseemly". First published: 2026-10-14. Last updated: 2026-10-14. https://disputeindex.com/events/5718-on-cnn-commentator-scott-jennings-said-the-text