Home · Politics · Sep 14 archive
Russian Oligarch Paid for Trump Jr.’s Wedding Party, Report Claims
Developing
In Short: Russian businessman Umar Kremlev covered over $100,000 in expenses for Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding celebration, according to ProPublica.
Umar Kremlev, a Russian oligarch and ally of President Vladimir Putin, reportedly covered over $100,000 in expenses for the wedding celebration of Donald Trump Jr. and socialite Bettina Anderson, according to a report from ProPublica. The report suggests that Kremlev's presence at the event, along with other men who spoke in Russian, was puzzling to those familiar with the wedding.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Bettina Trump denied any impropriety, stating, "Friendship doesn’t require a political motive." She and her husband also claimed that Kremlev did not pay for their actual wedding, only the subsequent party. However, Kremlev was not pictured in the wedding photos posted by Bettina Trump.
Donald Trump skipped his eldest son's wedding in May, but Kremlev did not. The lavish wedding party, which took place on a private island in the Bahamas, included a fireworks show, all of which were reportedly paid for by Kremlev. The expenses were part of a three-day celebration that began the day after the ceremony.
Trump Jr. also defended the relationship, stating, "I am proud to call Umar not only a leader but a friend." The report notes that Kremlev was part of a Russian delegation that met with Putin in Beijing in June 2016, discussing the future of boxing in China. This meeting took place at Trump Tower, according to Chinese state media.
The report from ProPublica highlights the potential political implications of Kremlev's involvement, given his ties to Putin and the timing of the meeting with the Russian delegation. While the Trumps claim the relationship is purely personal, the context of Kremlev's involvement raises questions about the nature of their friendship.
Background
A wedding reception is a party usually held after the completion of a marriage ceremony as hospitality for those who have attended the wedding, hence the name reception: the couple receive society, in the form of family and friends, for the first time as a married couple. Hosts provide their choice of food and drink, although a wedding cake is popular.
What's still developing
- Given the absurd amount of money the Trumps have made for themselves grifting off the presidency, there is little doubt that they could have afforded the lavish wedding themselves.
- “It’s unfortunate that something so personal and happy can be recast as something political or sinister simply because of who someone is or where they come from. Friendship doesn’t require a political motive. Generosity doesn’t automatically come with an agenda. And sometimes a wedding gift is simply a wedding gift,” she wrote.