Follow the Grift
  1. May 2026
    AllegedGiftsForeign money

    Wedding celebrations paid for by Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev Copy link

    ProPublica reported that Umar Kremlev, the Russian head of the International Boxing Association and a Putin associate, paid "hundreds of thousands of dollars" of expenses for Donald Trump Jr.'s May 2026 wedding weekend in the Bahamas, through an IBA-affiliated entity in Dubai. That included several nights on a private island that rents for about $100,000 a night and a fireworks show the vendor typically prices around $70,000. Bettina Trump called it "an extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend."

    Paid by Umar Kremlev, via an IBA-affiliated company in Dubai

    Floor figure: Verstka puts the island and fireworks at $170,000, from ProPublica's price estimates for one island night plus the fireworks. ProPublica says Kremlev paid for multiple nights and other costs, so the total is likely higher. Alleged because the amount rests on one investigation; the gift itself is confirmed by Bettina Trump and Kremlev.

    Response

    Umar Kremlev, President Trump and Trump Jr.'s spokesperson Kremlev says Trump Jr. repaid "the money I spent on the present"; President Trump said "I hear he paid them back." No amount or record of a repayment has been made public. Trump Jr.'s spokesperson called Kremlev "a personal friend" and "not someone he has a business relationship with." Scripps News (AP)

    • ReportProPublica · Donald Trump Jr.'s Bahamas wedding was secretly bankrolled by Russian oligarch close to Putin · 14 Sep 2026 · Archived
    • ReportProPublica · How we uncovered that Umar Kremlev bankrolled Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding · 14 Sep 2026
    • ReportVerstka · Umar Kremlev paid $170,000 for an island rental and fireworks for Donald Trump's son's wedding in the Bahamas · 14 Sep 2026 · Archived
    • ReportScripps News (AP) · Russian oligarch says Trump Jr. has paid him back for wedding expenses · 06 Oct 2026 · Archived
    • ReportStraight Arrow News · Trump Jr.'s wife confirms Putin-linked Russian oligarch partially funded wedding celebrations · 15 Sep 2026 · Archived
    $170KEst.
Portrait of Donald Trump Jr.
Donald Trump Jr.

Son. Partner, 1789 Capital; EVP, Trump Organization

$1.29B counted by default · 18 line items

Cite this line item

Follow the Grift, “Wedding celebrations paid for by Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev,” line item for Donald Trump Jr., https://followthegrift.com/items/donjr-kremlev-wedding/ (added 25 Oct 2026; accessed 01 Nov 2026).