A Russian businessman with links to the Kremlin allegedly paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for Donald Trump Jr’s wedding after-party in Bahamas earlier this year, New York Times reported citing two people familiar with the matter.
The payments were initially reported by ProPublica, with the report stating that they included the cost of renting a private island and fireworks display.
The lavish gift was allegedly extended by Umar Kremlev, president of the International Boxing Association, two people familiar to the matter told NYT.
Earlier reporting noted: Russian businessman Umar Kremlev, who is reportedly close to President Vladimir Putin, funded the after-party for US President Donald Trump Jr’s wedding in the Bahamas, the Financial Times reported. When asked about whether he was aware that Kremlev had paid the expenses for the after-party, a statement was provided by the White House to NYT. Trump had not attended his son’s wedding or the after-party. After the report was published by ProPublica, Trump Jr and his wife Bettina acknowledged the gifts in a statement posted on Instagram. Meanwhile, Kremlev also has direct ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin honoured Kremlev with a high-level state award, the Order of Friendship, in April.
In the statement, Trump said he had “no idea who Umar is, never heard of him. However, the President said that the businessman had reportedly paid for the “after-party”, adding that it was “not a big deal. “…He didn’t pay for Don and Bettina’s wedding, which took place at a totally different location, and on a different day,” the US President said. He had at that time said his son “would like me to go, but it’s going to be just a small, little private affair. A spokesperson for Trump Jr’s brother Eric Trump, who had attended the wedding, also said he had “no clue who this person is. “Our dear friend Umar very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us AFTER our wedding,” they said, adding that it was an “extraordinarily generous gift for which we remain incredibly grateful. a spokesperson for Trump Jr said the President’s son was not in business with Russian businessman While it is unclear how the couple had met Kremlev and become friendly with him. Further, according to the NYT report, Kremlev and Putin were seen together in China, just days before Trump Jr’s wedding in May. Earlier reporting noted: The couple called it “an extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend” and said they were “incredibly grateful”. He has presented Putin with a diamond boxing glove and later received the Order of Merit to the Fatherland from the Russian president, according to the Financial Times.
Earlier reporting noted: Kremlev, who heads the International Boxing Association, has reportedly close ties to Putin.
