Trump Says That DJ (DonJr) Paid Russian Oligarch, Umar Kremlev For Wedding Shindig In Bahamas. Or He's In the Process

Sep 20, 2026 02:17 AM EDT, Sun

Trump says Don Jr. repaid Russian oligarch who spent hundreds of thousands on wedding celebrations

President Donald Trump defended the arrangement as “totally allowed” but said Donald Trump Jr. told him he would reimburse Umar Kremlev for bankrolling the celebrations.

By Ebony Davis

Sept. 18, 2026, 9:59 PM EDT

President Donald Trump said Friday that his son, Donald Trump Jr., repaid a Russian businessman with ties to [President Vladimir Putin who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on his wedding celebrations.

Trump said the arrangement was “totally allowed” when asked whether it was appropriate for his son to accept the gift from Kremlev.

“As I understand it, he paid him back,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Moments later, however, the president suggested the repayment might still be underway, saying, “I understand that Don’s paying them back.”

It remains unclear whether the payment has been completed and, if so, how much. MS NOW has not independently verified the president’s claim. The Washington Post, citing an unnamed person close to Trump Jr., reported that he had repaid Kremlev.

ProPublica reported Monday that Kremlev spent a hefty amount toward Trump Jr.’s May wedding celebrations in the Bahamas, including the rental of a private island and a fireworks display.

Trump Jr. and his wife, Bettina Trump, previously confirmed that Kremlev hosted two nights of celebrations after their wedding, describing it as an “extraordinarily generous wedding gift” from a friend. Their statement did not mention plans to reimburse him.

Trump said Friday that he had asked his son about the arrangement after learning about it. The president previously said he had “no idea who Umar is” and emphasized that Kremlev had paid for an after-party rather than the wedding ceremony itself.

The arrangement has drawn scrutiny from congressional Democratssl. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA42), the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, opened an investigation this week, seeking records about Trump Jr.’s relationship with Kremlev and the payments.

Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT4), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, also asked FBI Director Kash Patel on Thursday to examine whether the arrangement poses a counterintelligence risk.

Ebony Davis is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked at CNN as a campaign reporter covering elections and politics.

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