Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding to Florida socialite Bettina Anderson in the Bahamas this spring was allegedly funded by Umar Kremlev, a Russian millionaire with ties to Vladimir Putin, according to a ProPublica investigation. The three-day celebration, held on multiple private islands, was described by Bettina as 'everything the couple dreamed of'.
ProPublica investigation reveals payment source
ProPublica reported that the wedding expenses were covered by an entity 'affiliated' with the International Boxing Association (IBA), which Kremlev heads. The IBA is itself bankrolled by a Kremlin-linked energy company, and the payment reportedly came through a Dubai-based affiliate.
Kremlev has been described as a 'personal friend' of Donald Trump Jr., according to a spokesman for the president's eldest son. The spokesman directed Metro to a recent Instagram post by Bettina Anderson, in which she addressed the controversy directly.
Bettina Anderson defends wedding gift
In her Instagram statement, Bettina wrote: 'Don and I got married privately on Friday, surrounded ONLY by our family. It was intimate, deeply personal and one of the most beautiful days of our lives. Our dear friend Umar very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us AFTER our wedding. It was an extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend, and something for which we were and remain incredibly grateful.'
She added: 'It's unfortunate that something so personal and happy can be recast as something political or sinister simply because of who someone is or where they come from. Friendship doesn't require a political motive. Generosity doesn't automatically come with an agenda. And sometimes a wedding gift is simply a wedding gift.'
Security concerns raised by former officials
Former intelligence chiefs have raised security concerns, fearing the president's son could be used as a pawn. Frank Montoya Jr., a retired FBI counterintelligence operative, told ProPublica: 'If I'm paying for your wedding, at some point, you're going to owe me something. This should be unthinkable for the son of the president. End of story.'
Donald Trump Jr. was previously married to Vanessa Trump, with whom he has two children, Kai and Donald Trump III. Vanessa is now dating golfer Tiger Woods. Trump Jr. is the eldest child of President Trump and his first wife, Ivana, followed by Ivanka and Eric, and has two half-siblings, Barron and Tiffany Trump.
