Kimberly Guilfoyle was blindsided by photos of Donald Trump Jr. sharing an intimate lunch with a Palm Beach socialite, having turned a blind eye to rumors and whispers about her fiancé’s alleged wandering eye, friends tell DailyMail.com.
The ex-Fox News host, 55, and the former president’s son have been dating since 2018 – following his divorce from first wife Vanessa – and announced their engagement in 2022.
The glamorous brunette, who’s the ex-wife of California Democratic governor Gavin Newsom, had since become a prominent member of Trump’s close circle and campaign, and has often been seen at her beau’s side at GOP and campaign events.
Now friends exclusively tell DailyMail.com that Guilfoyle was caught off guard by recent reports of Don Jr., 46, canoodling with heiress Bettina Anderson, 37, when photos of the pair’s intimate lunch in Palm Beach, Florida last month were published over the weekend.
The insider said: ‘Kimberly either didn’t know about Bettina – or didn’t want to know. Did she hear whispers that Don Jr. was fooling around with someone else? Probably.
Friends of Kimberly Guilfoyle tell DailyMail.com she had likely ‘heard whispers’ about fiancé Don Jr’s alleged philandering, but had ‘looked the other way’
A photo obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com shows Don Jr. having brunch with Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson, 37, in mid August – with fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle nowhere in sight
‘She’s no fool but it’s easy to deceive yourself when you’re so committed to someone and believe he’s committed to you.’
Sources told DailyMail.com that Don Jr’s dalliance with Anderson is an open secret in the ritzy Florida town and they have been spotted enjoying each other’s company frequently.
That includes the lunch where DailyMail.com’s photos were taken with the pair seen kissing several times during the meal at The Honor Bar which sits inside the upscale Royal Poinciana Plaza shopping center.
The source added: ‘Don Jr. is not one to account for what he does – not to Kimberly or anyone – except maybe his father.
‘He’s pretty bold and, as smart as she is, Kimberly looked the other way.’
Despite Don Jr.’s apparent openness about his association with Anderson, the insider says this doesn’t necessarily spell the end of his engagement to Guilfoyle.
The friend told DailyMail.com: ‘What happens now is anyone’s guess. Will she stick? Will he dump her?
‘She has been so entrenched in the campaign it would look bad to humiliate her. But you could see the writing on the wall at the convention.
‘Sure, she was given a platform but the vibrations in the former president’s box were not good ones between her and Don. She seemed odd woman out.’
Guilfoyle was seen at her fiancé’s side on Saturday just hours before DailyMail.com exclusively published the pictures of Don Jr. lunching with Bettina Anderson
Anderson, a registered Republican, often shares snaps of her glam Palm Beach lifestyle and was seen posing with the Stars and Stripes in a risqué bikini photo on Instagram
Sources told DailyMail.com that Don Jr’s dalliance with Anderson is an open secret in the ritzy Florida town
The couple first got together in 2018, three months after Don Jr’s ex-wife Vanessa filed to divorce the dad-of-five.
At 55, the San Francisco-born former prosecutor is nine years older than Don Jr, 46, had has previously been married twice.
Her first marriage to Newsom collapsed in 2005 after he cheated on her with Ruby Rippey-Tourk, the wife of his then-campaign manager and former deputy chief of staff, Alex Tourk.
The pair had brunch at The Honor Bar, located inside Palm Beach’s swank Royal Poinciana Plaza shopping center
Three months after her divorce from Newsom was finalized in February 2006, Guilfoyle married again – this time to furniture heir Eric Villency.
Their son Ronan was born in October that same year but the marriage was to prove short-lived with the couple divorcing in November 2009.
Since becoming an item with Don Jr, Guilfoyle has become an increasingly high-profile member of the Trump campaign – with the mom-of-one frequently delivering speeches at his rallies and appearances.
Until now, the pair had appeared loved up with Don Jr gushing over their six-year anniversary in an Instagram post four months ago.
He wrote: ‘Happy 6 year anniversary @kimberlyguilfoyle thanks for always being there no matter what the haters are throwing our way. I love you.’
Guilfoyle responded: ‘You are my best friend and my soulmate. Here’s to us and out incredibly blessed life we share together. Looking forward to creating new memories and enjoying more adventures together.’
The intimate outing came just a few months after Don Jr. gushed over fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle in an Instagram post celebrating their six-year anniversary as a couple in May
Don Jr. and Guilfoyle, 55, live in a $15.5million waterfront mansion in an ultra-secure development in Jupiter, 19 miles north of Palm Beach. They are seen posing with his five young children and her son Ronan (far left) earlier this year on Easter
The couple live in a $15.5million waterfront mansion in an ultra-secure development in Jupiter, 20 miles north of Palm Beach.
They jointly bought the huge spread, which has a large triple-engine boat sitting in the dock at the front, for $9.7million in April 2021, four months after getting engaged.
The Spanish-style pile, which has six bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, is a regular scene for the couple’s reported lavish parties.
Neither Guilfoyle nor Don Jr have publicly commented on DailyMail.com’s revelations, but were seen presenting a united front at an event in Kentucky on Saturday.
Following the second failed attempt on former President Trump’s life on Sunday, both turned to Instagram with Guilfoyle reposting a message of support by Don Jr. to his father.
The original post included a screenshot of Trump’s message that was released after the almost-attack and included the caption ‘Again folks!’