Urgent.News

What's breaking now, across thousands of outlets.

Culture

Donald Trump Jr Wife Bettina Responds to Putin Ally Funding Their Wedding

In a social media post, Bettina Anderson pushed back on the idea that Umar Kremlev's involvement carried any political dimension.

On May 24, Donald Trump Jr. celebrated his wedding in the Bahamas, a lavish three-day affair spanning two private islands. The wedding featured dancers, fireworks, and a five-tier cake transported from Florida. The festivities concluded with Trump Jr. lifting his bride into the air as fireworks launched from a barge over the sea.

His wife later expressed her delight on Instagram, stating it was everything they dreamed of and more. This dream was primarily financed by Umar Kremlev, a Russian oligarch with close ties to President Vladimir Putin. ProPublica's investigation and interviews with three sources revealed Kremlev's substantial financial contributions, covering expenses like island rental and fireworks.

Kremlev, head of the International Boxing Association, an organization partly funded by the Russian energy giant Gazprom, flew in from Dubai to oversee the event. The guest list consisted of around 50 people, including Trump Jr.'s brother-in-law Jared Kushner, Eric Trump, and Kremlev himself. His presence on the guest list raised concerns as it marked a close relationship between Putin's circle and the Trump family.

The oligarch's involvement in the wedding payment highlights the potential influence of Russian entities in American society. National security experts are alarmed by this development, questioning the motivations behind Kremlev's support and the potential implications for U.S. politics. While Trump Jr. maintains his friendship with Kremlev, the situation has sparked debate over the intersection of money and political access.

Written by urgent.news from ProPublica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

This story

This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.

Read the original at newsweek.com →

More in Culture

More from Monday 14 September →