Donald Trump Jr. and his wife, Bettina Trump, have confirmed that Russian businessman Umar Kremlev funded portions of their wedding celebrations in the Bahamas. Bettina Trump described Kremlev as a dear friend who generously hosted two nights of festivities following the nuptials.
Kremlev serves as the president of the International Boxing Association and is involved in the online sports betting industry. He is a figure close to the ruling circles in Moscow with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and conducts business with the state. Earlier this year, Putin awarded Kremlev the Order of Friendship.
A ProPublica report indicates that Kremlev paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in wedding expenses for the two nights of celebration. While the festivities were partially funded by the oligarch, Bettina Trump clarified that he was not involved in the actual wedding ceremony.