Putin ally paid for Trump Jr's wedding celebrations as 'extraordinarily generous gift'

Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev, the head of the International Boxing Association, contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding in the Bahamas, according to ProPublica. The expenses amounted to approximately $100,000 per night for island rental, $70,000 for fireworks, and additional costs related to organizing the event.

Kremlev covered these costs through a Dubai-based entity linked to the IBA. Despite estimates placing Trump Jr.'s wealth at $300 million, he reportedly could have personally covered the expenses, as he invited only about 50 guests, including several Russian-speaking attendees. Kremlev, who speaks limited English, was among them.

Some of Trump Jr.'s longtime friends were notably absent from the guest list. The president himself did not attend the wedding, remaining in Washington. A Trump Jr. representative confirmed that Kremlev was a personal friend who shares his love for boxing and outdoor activities. Eric Trump, Trump Jr.'s brother, claimed he had never heard of Kremlev.

Kremlev's past includes convictions for extortion and assault, which he attempted to address by changing his surname in 2010. Previously a convicted felon, Kremlev rose to prominence through his friendship with Alexei Rubezhnoy, the head of the Presidential Security Service. Kremlev's rise included becoming president of the Boxing Federation of Russia in 2016 and acquiring assets like the bookmakers Fonbet, Pari, and Liga Stavok, as well as the nationalized car dealer Rolf.

Proekt, a Russian investigative outlet, reported that Kremlev initially endorsed the nationalization of Rolf before being involved in its transfer to him. Since 2020, Kremlev has led the IBA, a period during which the organization received tens of millions of dollars from Gazprom. In 2023, the International Olympic Committee revoked the IBA's right to organize Olympic boxing tournaments due to concerns over financial transparency.