Trump Jr. wedding celebrations were sponsored by powerful Russian businessman

Live updates

1. 10h ago

   Russian Oligarch Umar Kremlev Funded Donald Trump Jr. Wedding Celebrations

   Russian businessman and Putin ally Umar Kremlev paid for a significant portion of Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding celebrations in the Bahamas. Donald Trump Jr. and his wife, Bettina Trump, confirmed the funding was a gift. ProPublica reports Kremlev spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to rent a private island for the reception and guest accommodations, while also covering the fireworks display. While the couple acknowledges the gift for festivities, Bettina Trump maintains the Russian businessman did not pay for the wedding ceremony itself.

   Why it matters

   Umar Kremlev is a Russian boxing promoter and oligarch with ties to Vladimir Putin. The financial arrangement has prompted a top Oversight Democrat to seek answers regarding the nature of the funding.

   What is confirmed

   • Umar Kremlev, a Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin, provided funding for Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding celebrations.
   • The funding included the rental of a private island for a reception and guest lodging.
   • Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Trump confirmed that a Putin ally paid for some wedding festivities as a gift.
   • Kremlev's contributions included the cost of a fireworks show.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Kremlev footed the bill for hundreds of thousands of dollars of wedding expenses.
   • A five-tier funfetti cake was airlifted from Florida for the event.
   • The wedding gift from the Russian businessman was a six-figure sum.

   What to watch next

   • Official responses from the Oversight Committee regarding the investigation into the funding.
   • Further disclosure of the total amount spent by Umar Kremlev on the event.
   Sources used for this update (14)

   1. ProPublica — Donald Trump Jr.’s Bahamas Wedding Was Secretly Bankrolled by Russian Oligarch Close to Putin
   2. thehill.com — Donald Trump Jr.’s wife defends wedding gift from Russian oligarch
   3. Rolling Stone — Putin Ally Paid for Huge Portion of Don Jr.’s Wedding: Report
   4. Bloomberg.com — Trump Jr.’s Wife Says Russian Paid for Parties But Not Wedding
   5. washingtonpost.com — Trump Jr. wedding celebrations were sponsored by powerful Russian businessman
   6. The New York Times — Russian Businessman Paid for Donald Trump Jr.’s Lavish Wedding After-Party
   7. Yahoo — Top Oversight Democrat wants answers on Russian oligarch’s role in Trump Jr.’s wedding
   8. Yahoo — Donald Trump Jr.’s Post-Wedding Weekend Was ‘Secretly Bankrolled’ by Russian Boxing Promoter and Businessman with Ties to Putin: Reports
   9. kcra.com — Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding celebration was partially funded by Russian oligarch, the couple confirms
   10. BBC — Donald Trump Jr and Bettina Trump say Putin ally paid for some wedding festivities as a 'gift'
   11. Yahoo — Donald Trump Jr. Pushes Back Over Russian Businessman’s Six-Figure Wedding Gift
   12. The Guardian — Who is Umar Kremlev, the Russian oligarch who reportedly helped pay for Donald Trump Jr’s wedding?
   confidence 90%