Kimberly Guilfoyle’s Fundraising Tactics Spark Controversy with Sexually Suggestive Remarks
Kimberly Guilfoyle, a key MAGA campaign advisor and fiancée of Donald Trump Jr., has come under scrutiny for making donors uncomfortable with inappropriate, sexually suggestive remarks at fundraising events. According to a report by Politico, Guilfoyle made awkward sex jokes and even offered a lap dance to the highest donor during the 2020 presidential campaign, sparking complaints from senior campaign and GOP officials.
Guilfoyle’s behavior, described by some as “unprofessional” and an “HR nightmare,” allegedly hurt the Trump campaign’s fundraising efforts. Despite holding numerous events, the campaign struggled to compete with President Joe Biden’s robust small-donor fundraising operation. Donors reportedly found her antics at events unsettling, including a recollection from two attendees that she offered a lap dance during a fundraiser at the Trump Hotel in Washington, DC.
In another incident in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Guilfoyle suggested a hot-tub party for the donor who raised the most funds for Trump’s campaign, according to an attendee. At yet another fundraiser in 2018, she reportedly joked that Don Jr. enjoyed it when she dressed as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, per CNN.
Guilfoyle, who began dating Donald Trump Jr. in 2018, played a central role in the campaign’s fundraising efforts alongside him. The couple reportedly expressed frustration with 2020 RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, believing she wasn’t doing enough to close the gap with Biden. A source close to the couple suggested they might have aspirations to take control of the RNC in the future.
Despite the criticisms, Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh defended Guilfoyle, stating, “Kimberly Guilfoyle is an excellent fundraiser and was a highly valued asset to the President’s team. There was nothing offensive about her presentations in context.”
Guilfoyle’s career has been marred by scandals both personal and professional. Previously married to California Governor Gavin Newsom, she divorced him after his affair with his secretary. She later married businessman Eric Villency, with whom she has a son, but that relationship also ended in divorce.
Professionally, Guilfoyle faced sexual harassment allegations during her time as a Fox News host. A former assistant accused her of inappropriate behavior, including allegedly displaying herself naked and showing lewd photos of men she had been involved with. Fox News investigated and ultimately paid the accuser $4 million, leading to Guilfoyle’s departure from the network.