Donald Trump Jr. and Wife Cozy Up to Russian Oligarch for Lavish Post-Wedding Bash
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Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Trump accepted a luxury island celebration paid for by Russian businessman Umar Kremlev, raising new concerns about the Trump family's ongoing ties to foreign oligarchs and potential influence peddling.
Donald Trump Jr. and his wife, Bettina Trump, openly admitted that Russian businessman Umar Kremlev footed the bill for a decadent two-night post-wedding celebration on a private Bahamian island. The event, which began just a day after their ceremony, included a lavish fireworks display and was attended by dozens of guests, according to a ProPublica investigation.
The couple boasted on Bettina’s Instagram that Kremlev “very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us after our wedding,” shamelessly describing the expense as an “extraordinarily generous wedding gift.”
President Donald Trump, who skipped the celebration, tried to downplay the scandal, telling NBC News the after-party was “not a big deal” and feigning ignorance about Kremlev.
Democratic Representative Robert Garcia, the leading Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, pointed out that Kremlev, sanctioned by Ukraine for his ties to the Kremlin, “spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the President’s son. What did he get in return? We need answers.”
Bettina Trump attempted to brush off the controversy, claiming the island trip was just a “fun weekend with friends” and insisting there was no political motive behind Kremlev’s extravagant generosity.
Kremlev, president of the International Boxing Association, and Trump Jr. have previously appeared together at an IBA event in Turkey. Trump Jr. has publicly called Kremlev “a leader and a friend.” Kremlev’s representatives claimed the two are “joining forces” to promote transparency in boxing, but failed to provide any meaningful details.
Kremlev was awarded a Russian Order of Friendship medal by President Vladimir Putin in April and recently accompanied Putin as part of a Russian delegation to Beijing.
Trump Jr. has already faced scrutiny for his meetings with Kremlin-linked individuals during the 2016 campaign, though no charges were filed. Representatives for Kremlev and Trump Jr. did not respond to requests for comment, continuing the Trump family’s pattern of evasion and secrecy.