Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding in the Bahamas was paid for by a Russian oligarch close to Putin.
Oligarch Umar Kremlev spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on Trump's son's wedding, including renting a private island. Apparently, he attended the wedding along with a large group of Russian guests, writes ProPublicaThe president's new daughter-in-law, Bettina Trump, calls it "just generosity," adding Daily Mail.
Donald Trump Jr. partied in the Bahamas on May 24th, entertaining him and his guests with dancers in revealing costumes, stilettos, and sailor caps. It was the final night of his wedding—a lavish three-day celebration held on two gated private islands. A five-tiered cake was flown in from Florida, and helicopters and seaplanes arrived one after another, before guests were accommodated in oceanfront villas. That evening, Trump Jr. lifted his bride in his arms on the beach, while fireworks were launched from a barge over the sea.
"It was even better than we dreamed," his wife later wrote on Instagram.
However, a significant portion of this celebration was paid for by a hidden sponsor: Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev, close to Vladimir Putin.
On the subject: Trump's sons are actively investing in defense companies that receive government contracts from the White House.
According to documents reviewed by ProPublica and three people familiar with the wedding, Kremlev spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the celebration. He rented one of the private islands where the reception was held and where the guests stayed. He also covered other major expenses, including the fireworks, and his team participated in the event's preparations. Kremlev heads the International Boxing Association, a controversial organization financed by Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom. Payments for the wedding were channeled through a Dubai-based entity affiliated with the IBA, which the association uses for its financial transactions.
The guest list numbered around 50 people. Among them were Ivanka Trump's husband, Jared Kushner, the groom's brother, Eric Trump, and Kremlev himself—a large man with a shaved head and poor English. He arrived with a group of Russians, whose presence puzzled the other guests: they kept to themselves and spoke Russian among themselves.
"It was a very small group, just our closest friends," Trump Jr. later said on his podcast. "We tried to keep it as intimate as possible. And it turned out great."
Kremlin's relationship with Trump Jr. has been revealed for the first time, and it appears to be an exceptional case: a member of Putin's inner circle effectively financed the US president's son and gained access to the Trump family. Over the past decade, the Russian government, considered one of the US's main geopolitical adversaries, has been accused of attempting to influence US elections. Attempts to establish contacts with the Trump family before the 2016 election sparked a major scandal that surrounded much of Trump's first presidential term.
National security experts expressed concern that Trump Jr. accepted such largesse and asked a key question: What motivated the Kremlin to spend so much money to build this relationship?
"If I pay for your wedding, sooner or later you're going to owe me something," explained Frank Montoya Jr., a former FBI officer who held senior counterintelligence positions. He noted that oligarchs like Kremlev often act in concert with the Russian state. Whether that was the case in this case is unclear, but Trump Jr. put himself in a vulnerable position.
"For the president's son, this is unthinkable. Period," he concluded.
Holden Triplett, who served as director of counterintelligence at the National Security Council during Trump's first term, noted that Russian intelligence services regularly try to establish ties with American officials and their relatives.
"Money is a proven way to gain access," said Triplett, who previously worked for the FBI in Moscow.
In the days leading up to the wedding, Kremlev was in China as part of Putin's delegation, according to Chinese state media. A month earlier, Putin awarded him the Order of Friendship. Ukrainian authorities imposed personal sanctions against Kremlev, citing his close ties to Putin and Russian security forces.
Why the Kremlin decided to pay for part of Trump Jr.'s wedding remains unclear. Apparently, they met relatively recently. However, Forbes estimates Trump Jr.'s net worth at approximately $300 million, and he could afford such expenses.
Responding to journalists' questions, Trump Jr.'s spokesman did not deny that Kremlev had paid him. "Umar is a personal friend of Don's," he clarified. He said there was no business relationship between them; they met through a mutual acquaintance in the hunting community and bonded over their shared interest in boxing and outdoor recreation.
A spokesman for his brother Eric Trump said: "Eric has no idea who this is and has never heard the name."
The Kremlin press service reported that he and Trump Jr. have a “friendly relationship,” and that they met several years ago.
They described Kremlev as an entrepreneur and philanthropist, emphasizing that he "never discussed political matters with his American friends and acquaintances," including Trump Jr. The press service added that the boxing organization itself did not bear any wedding expenses, but declined to comment on payments made through the Dubai entity. Furthermore, they claim that Kremlev was not part of Putin's "official delegation" during his recent trip to China.
Jared Kushner, who is involved in the US government's negotiations with Russia over Ukraine, did not respond to journalists' inquiries. The White House and Russian authorities also declined to comment.
Trump Jr. has recently been increasing his political influence. He is popular with MAGA supporters, has reportedly helped select cabinet nominees for Trump's second term, and, according to The Wall Street Journal, has become his father's "most important political adviser."
"I certainly wouldn't have been the vice presidential nominee without Don's help," J.D. Vance said in late 2024.
How did the wedding go?
The president's eldest son married the 39-year-old socialite in a Palm Beach ceremony at the end of May, after which the newlyweds traveled to the Caribbean for a lavish reception.
Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson exchanged vows on a private island used in the James Bond films Pirates of the Caribbean and Casino Royale. They danced their first dance on another private island nearby, which costs around $100,000 per night to rent—an expense also covered by Kremlev. The company that organized the fireworks display charges around $70,000 for such displays. According to Trump Jr.'s spokesperson, Kremlev himself did not attend the ceremony on the first day, which was attended by only 18 guests.
The atmosphere was a combination of Monte Carlo luxury and a frat party: helicopters flew in and out, a DJ played on the beach, and beer pong tournaments took place. One day, the men went spearfishing.
Craftsmen at London fashion house Safiyaa spent 150 hours embroidering Anderson's silk reception gown. Trump Jr. himself reportedly underwent cosmetic surgery before the wedding to enhance his jawline.
Some of the groom's longtime friends said they were disappointed not to receive an invitation, although several of his closest business partners—top executives from the Trump family's crypto company, World Liberty Financial, and the investment firm 1789 Capital—were present. Donald Trump himself did not attend the wedding.
"He wanted me to go, but it would be a very small, private event," he told reporters, noting in advance that the timing was inappropriate. A significant portion of the guests were immediate family members of the bride and groom.
Against this background, the large group of Russians looked especially noticeable.
“What are they doing here?” one of those present recalled.
However, among the Russian guests was a man who accompanied Kremlev on his trip to China: businessman Alexander Lagutin, who held senior positions in the defense industry and a state-owned energy company. Elena Sobol, his closest ally at IBA, was also present at the wedding.
After the wedding, the Trump family released numerous photos and videos from the celebration. They show many guests, but the Russians were not included. Only in one group photo, posted by the bridesmaid, can the Kremlin's crown be discerned in the background. After the ceremony, Trump Jr. emphasized the private nature of the event on the Triggered podcast: "If you were on the guest list, you don't talk about what happened."
Who is Umar Kremlev
In 2009, a man named Umar Kremlev did not yet exist.
As the independent Russian publication Proekt reported, he was about 20 years old at the time, already convicted of extortion and battery. His name was Umar Lutfulloev. Soon, the young man's position changed dramatically thanks to the support of an influential patron. The Kremlin press service, however, claims he has a "completely clean legal record."
In 2010, he changed his surname to Kremlev. Umar soon joined the state-sponsored Night Wolves biker club and eventually rose to a leadership position. It was then, according to media reports, that he became close to Alexey Rubezhny, who now heads the Russian presidential security service. In 2017, Kremlev became head of the Russian Boxing Federation after Rubezhny's personal intervention.
In 2020, Kremlev became president of the International Boxing Association (IBA), a body comparable in importance to FIFA in the world of boxing and which had long overseen the sport at the Olympic Games. By that time, the organization was mired in corruption scandals and on the brink of bankruptcy. Kremlev secured funding from Gazprom, a state-owned company closely tied to the Russian government. As a result, the IBA's budget was replenished by tens of millions of dollars.
Former senior IBA officials said Kremlev had a clear political agenda.
"Umar acts with Putin in mind. This is using sports as a tool of soft power," said one former board member.
Kremlev, 43, is actively involved with the organization "Healthy Fatherland," led by the twin sister of his 23-year-old wife. According to Ukrainian authorities, this organization is under sanctions for its alleged involvement in a program to evacuate Ukrainian children from occupied territories under the guise of "rehabilitation."
Kremlev's closeness to power has earned him a significant fortune. According to Proekt, Putin used state mechanisms to establish him as a key player in Russia's sports betting market, and one of his companies was awarded the right to manage the national lottery. After the nationalization of the largest car dealership chain in 2023, Kremlev became its owner.
He flaunts this wealth publicly: in one video, he gives a young mother a car, in another, he criticizes his employee's appearance and forces her to change her clothes, trains by sparring with ostriches, invites celebrities like rapper Rick Ross and model Naomi Campbell to IBA events, praises Stalin, and flies on private jets.
Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the US began indicting Russian oligarchs and confiscating their assets. According to a source close to IBA leadership, the Kremlin feared being subject to these sanctions.
"He was very afraid of American sanctions," the source emphasized. However, his name does not appear on any public US sanctions lists.
As the business climate in Europe worsened for Russian companies, the Kremlin transferred a significant portion of IBA's operations from Switzerland to the United Arab Emirates. It was the IB Challenger structure established there that later paid for Trump Jr.'s wedding.
IBA's funding sources remain unclear: in recent years, management has given conflicting statements regarding its relationship with Gazprom. The Kremlin press service claims the contract with the company "long expired," but sources close to the organization believe the funds continue to flow from Russia.
In 2023, the International Olympic Committee stripped the IBA of its right to host Olympic boxing competitions, citing numerous governance issues, as well as the organization's refusal to disclose its funding sources and the extent of its reliance on a single state-owned company.
This dealt a serious blow to the IBA's international influence. Kremlev harshly criticized the Olympic Committee and declared that his predecessor, whom he held responsible for the problems, "should be shot."
Relationship with Trump
Kremlev saw a potential ally in Donald Trump. After the 47th president's inauguration in January 2025, he sent him an open letter asking him to investigate the Olympic Committee's actions ahead of the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
"We are optimistic about the opportunity to work together to make the Olympic Movement great again," he wrote.
In September 2025, the IBA invited Trump Jr. to a panel discussion in Istanbul on boxing. His then-girlfriend, Anderson, was backstage. Trump Jr. criticized the participation of transgender women in women's sports and recalled watching Saturday night fights as a child. He shared the stage with Kremlev, boxer Manny Pacquiao, and Muhammad Ali's daughter, Rasheda. Trump Jr.'s spokesperson claims he was not paid for his appearance, and that he was already in Turkey for another purpose.
The president's son could not have failed to understand the ambiguity of his contacts with someone close to Putin. Trump Jr.'s meeting with a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower in June 2016 became a key episode in Robert Mueller's investigation.
That meeting was arranged after a letter offered Trump Jr. damaging information about Hillary Clinton as part of Russia's support. He later called the investigation a "witch hunt," and the Mueller report concluded there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.
Kremlev has recently been trying to expand his presence in the American market. In July, his organization held a bare-knuckle boxing tournament in Miami, a hardcore form of boxing. However, the event became the center of attention after the guest host, blogger Andrew Tate, was detained outside the arena by US Marshals. He faces rape and human trafficking charges in the UK, which he denies.
Many details of the Kremlin's relationship with Trump Jr. remain unknown. In a press release following the Istanbul event, the IBA hinted that the collaboration would continue.
"President Kremlev and Donald Trump Jr. have made it clear: this alliance will not be symbolic," the statement said. "New joint initiatives lie ahead."
How did they comment on the pro-Putin oligarch's participation in the wedding of the US President's son?
Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Trump have admitted that a Russian oligarch covered the costs of their Bahamas wedding party, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
On September 14, Bettina posted a series of previously unpublished photos on social media and called the Russian "our dear friend Umar."
She said he "very generously arranged two incredible evenings of celebration for us," emphasizing that she was referring to events that took place after the ceremony itself.
In closing, she addressed her followers: "Friendship doesn't require political motives. Generosity doesn't necessarily have a hidden agenda."
In an Instagram post, Bettina wrote: “Don and I got married on Friday in a small gathering with just our family.
It was an intimate, very personal event and one of the most wonderful days of our lives.
The weekend that followed was originally planned as a fun time with friends.
They were never intended to be wedding weekends. When our original plans changed, we simply decided to get married early and arrived on the already planned weekend as newlyweds.
Our dear friend Umar generously arranged two incredible post-wedding celebrations for us. It was an exceptionally generous wedding gift from a friend, for which we were and remain immensely grateful.
It's a shame that something so personal and joyful is being portrayed as political or sinister simply because of who the person is and where they're from. Friendship doesn't require political motives. Generosity doesn't necessarily mean ulterior motives. Sometimes a wedding gift is just that—a wedding gift.
We are fortunate to have wonderful friends all over the world, and we will never be ashamed or make excuses for our gratitude to them.
For those willing to ignore the facts for a beautiful story: NO CONSPIRACY, NO MYSTERY. Just a private family wedding, a wonderful weekend with friends, and a great party.
And since fake news spreads fast, we decided the truth deserves a few photos too."
She concluded the post with the caption: “With love and gratitude, Don and Bettina.”
Revelations that a Russian businessman paid for Donald Jr.'s expensive post-wedding events have raised questions among Democrats on the House Oversight Committee.
Congressman James Walkinshaw wrote in X: "A Russian oligarch with ties to Putin secretly paid for Donald Jr.'s lavish wedding. Putin's inner circle doesn't spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on the president's family for nothing. What did he expect in return? We need answers."
His colleague Robert Garcia also questioned the reasons for these payments: "Why did a Russian oligarch close to Putin pay for Donald Jr.'s wedding in the Bahamas? Umar Kremlev spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the president's son. What did he get in return? We need answers."
The committee, accusing the president of using his office to enrich himself, his family, and his inner circle, announced hearings on September 14 to investigate the alleged corruption.
Former property of the Medellin Cartel
The private island where the celebrations took place boasts its own runway and customs clearance system for private jets. It is described as a private retreat for select guests, offering villas and yacht moorings. Personal butlers are available, and the beaches are secluded and pristine.
Accessible only by charter plane or boat, accommodations start at approximately $1400 per person per night, ensuring maximum privacy.
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However, the island has one peculiarity that may not be to the taste of newlyweds, especially given the groom's father's policy of fighting drug cartels.
In the past, this small island served as a base for the Medellin drug cartel: from 1978 to 1982, one of its leaders, Carlos Lehder, used it as a transit point for smuggling.
The Daily Mail sent Donald Jr. a request for comment, but did not receive a response.
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