Donald Trump Jr. refunded a Russian businessman, Kremlov, for expenses related to his and Bettina Trump’s wedding celebration in the Bahamas. Kremlov stated, “He returned the money, but I didn’t understand why, as I don’t consider it a special gift,” during an interview in Istanbul.
Kremlov did not attend the wedding ceremony, but he participated in other celebrations with mutual friends. The couple married in a private ceremony in May and later hosted a celebration in the Bahamas, which Kremlov initially funded.
The news of the refund has prompted calls in the U.S. to investigate the Trump family’s connections to the Russian businessman. In September, U.S. President stated that his son would return the money, downplaying the significance of the situation.
Context
- Kremlov, 43, leads the International Boxing Association (IBA) and previously managed the Russian Boxing Federation. His business interests reportedly include lotteries and betting businesses. While he has ties to individuals close to the Kremlin, he is not considered part of the inner circle of Russia’s illegitimate president, Vladimir Putin.
- In September, ProPublica reported that Kremlov covered a significant portion of the post-wedding celebrations for Trump Jr. in the Bahamas, including the rental of a private island and fireworks, amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Bettina Trump described it as “an incredibly generous wedding gift from a friend.”
