Umar Kremlev paid part of Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Trump’s wedding costs

A Russian oligarch with close ties to Vladimir Putin covered part of the expenses for Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Trump’s wedding in May, the couple confirmed in a statement posted on Bettina Trump’s Instagram after the publication of an investigative report.

According to documents and conversations with unnamed sources, the oligarch, Umar Kremlev, spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the events. Payments reportedly covered the rental of one of the islands used for the reception and guest accommodation, along with other major costs including an elaborate fireworks display.

In a joint statement released by the couple on Instagram they acknowledged the contribution and called it “an exceptionally generous wedding gift from a friend, for which we were and remain immeasurably grateful.”

Context and scrutiny

The disclosure prompted questions from U.S. lawmakers. Robert Garcia, the leading Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, wrote on social media: “Why did a Russian oligarch close to Putin fund Trump Jr’s wedding in the Bahamas? Umar Kremlev spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the president’s son. What did he get in return? We need answers.”

Kremlev is the head of the International Boxing Association (IBA), an organization that has received support from the Russian state energy company Gazprom. The payments tied to the wedding were reportedly routed through an entity connected to the IBA and based in Dubai, which the boxing body uses for financial transactions.

In the days before the wedding, Kremlev is said to have traveled to China as part of a delegation accompanying Putin, and about a month earlier the Russian president awarded him the Order of Friendship. The Ukrainian government has imposed sanctions on Kremlev, citing his closeness to Putin and to Russian security services.

Photo: Instagram-profil na Betina Tramp