Donald Trump Jr. Discussed Possible Business Dealings with Kremlin-Linked Oligarch in Kazakhstan
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Donald Trump Jr. met with sanctioned International Boxing Association head Umar Kremlev in Kazakhstan, fueling concerns about the Trump family’s increasingly entangled foreign dealings, possible business talks, and the security risks that come with cultivating ties to figures close to Vladimir Putin.
Donald Trump Jr. met with Umar Kremlev, the head of the sanctioned International Boxing Association, during a trip to Kazakhstan earlier this year, according to two sources cited by the Russian outlet Important Stories. The meeting comes after Kremlev helped fund Trump Jr.’s May wedding in the Bahamas and joined him on a hunting trip in Mongolia.
Kremlev, described as a close confidant of sanctioned Russian leader Vladimir Putin, travels with armed guards provided by Russia’s National Guard, a level of protection usually reserved for senior state officials. He is also reported to have close ties to Alexei Rubezhnoi, the head of Russia’s presidential security service.
"Kremlev is a dear friend of the couple," Bettina Anderson said.
Trump Jr. has said there is nothing improper about his relationship with Kremlev, although the exact content of their discussion remains unclear. The reported possibility of business negotiations only deepens concerns about the Trump family’s ties to Kremlin-linked figures and the security risks that follow.
The family is already facing intense scrutiny as Democrats prepare congressional investigations after their victories in the recent midterm elections. Previous reporting linked Trump-related development projects in Georgia to Russian-connected oligarchs who are under U.S. sanctions.
In 2025, Donald Trump Jr. and his brother Eric invested in Skyline Builders, which acquired a 20 percent stake in Kaz Resources, a tungsten mining firm in Kazakhstan. Shortly afterward, the United States and Kazakhstan signed an agreement granting a Kaz Resources affiliate access to major tungsten deposits, and federal agencies have considered a combined $1.6 billion in funding for the project.
The Daily Beast sought comment from Trump Jr.’s representatives and the White House but did not receive a response.