Donald Trump Jr. and his wife, Bettina Trump, have confirmed that Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev, who is considered close to President Vladimir Putin, paid for part of the lavish celebrations following their wedding in the Bahamas in May.
According to an investigation published by ProPublica, the Kremlin paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for the party, including renting a private island, accommodating guests and a fireworks display. The festivities continued after the wedding ceremony and included about 50 guests, including members of the Trump family.
After the report was published, Bettina Trump confirmed on Instagram that the Kremlin had hosted two evening parties for the couple, calling the payment an extremely generous “wedding gift” from a friend. The couple insisted that it was a personal relationship and that there was no political motive behind the gift.
"Our dear friend Umar very generously hosted two incredible evenings of celebration for us after the wedding. It was an incredibly generous wedding gift from a friend, for which we were and remain incredibly grateful," Bettina Trump wrote in a post signed "Don & Bettina."
The couple also tried to separate the wedding ceremony from the celebrations in the Bahamas, emphasizing that the private wedding took place in a close family circle, while the weekend of celebrations was planned as a gathering with friends and relatives.
Donald Trump, who did not attend the wedding or the festivities in the Bahamas, has downplayed the issue. He also stated that he does not know the Kremlin and had never heard of it before.
The case has attracted a lot of attention because of the Russian businessman's profile. Kremlev is the president of the International Boxing Association and has documented ties to Russian state structures. He has appeared close to Vladimir Putin and, according to ProPublica, shortly before Trump Jr.'s wedding, was part of a delegation that accompanied the Russian president on a visit to China.
Kremlev also paid for other significant expenses for the party, according to the investigation. One of the private islands where the activities took place was rented for the event, while the fireworks display alone can cost tens of thousands of dollars. The payments, according to ProPublica, were made through an entity affiliated with the International Boxing Association.
The report has raised questions about why a member of the US president's family would accept such a large gift from a Russian businessman with close ties to Vladimir Putin's inner circle, especially given the long history of concerns in the US about Russian influence and interference in American politics.
Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Trump, however, have denied any political motive, arguing that Kremlev is a personal friend and that the payment was simply a generous gift for post-wedding celebrations.
