Donald Trump Jr. and his wife, Bettina Trump, have confirmed that Russian businessman Umar Kremlev helped fund two nights of celebrations surrounding their May wedding in the Bahamas, describing the contribution as a generous gift from a friend.
The couple addressed the arrangement in a jointly signed statement posted on Bettina Trump’s Instagram account after investigative outlet ProPublica reported that Kremlev had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the festivities.
“Our dear friend Umar very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us AFTER our wedding,” the couple said. “It was an extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend, and something for which we were and remain incredibly grateful.” According to ProPublica, the couple married on a private island in the Bahamas before holding a two-day celebration on another island that rents for approximately $100,000 per night.
The report said Kremlev also covered other expenses, including a fireworks display costing about $70,000. President Donald Trump did not attend the wedding or the related festivities, saying he had to remain in Washington during talks concerning the Iran war. ExecutiveBranch
Kremlev heads the International Boxing Association, which has faced scrutiny over its financial governance and other issues. The International Olympic Committee severed ties with the organisation following repeated concerns over its governance and ethics. The IBA has also received funding from Russian state-backed energy company Gazprom, while the Olympic movement had raised concerns about the organisation’s financial relationship with the company.
Kremlev has had documented interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In April 2026, Putin awarded him Russia’s Order of Friendship, according to an IBA statement that included a photograph of the two men shaking hands. “During the ceremony, the Russian President praised the IBA’s resilience in supporting athletes despite political pressures,” the IBA said. Kremlev was also reportedly part of a delegation that travelled to China with Putin earlier in the year.
The IBA’s website has featured photographs of Trump Jr. appearing on stage with Kremlev at an event in Istanbul in September 2025. A spokesperson for Trump Jr. told ProPublica that Trump Jr. and Kremlev were personal friends and did not have “a business relationship.”
Kremlev’s office similarly told ProPublica that “Mr. Kremlev and Mr. Trump Jr have a friendly relationship,” adding that the two met several years ago. The couple rejected suggestions that Kremlev’s involvement in the celebrations should be viewed as politically significant.
“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,” their statement said. Bettina Trump’s Instagram post included 20 photographs from the celebrations, including images of the newlyweds and members of the Trump family. Kremlev reportedly attended part of the wedding festivities.
Trump Jr. is a private citizen and is not prohibited from accepting gifts from foreign nationals. However, ethics watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington raised concerns about the appearance of a potential conflict of interest because of Kremlev’s connections in Russia.
“People don’t just give hundreds of thousands of dollars to a random acquaintance without wanting something,” CREW vice president of communications Jordan Libowitz said. “You can see how [Putin] would enjoy all this press about how people in his circle are cozying up to people in the president’s circle.”
Libowitz argued that Trump Jr. or his father could have covered the cost of the celebrations instead. “His father is worth billions he could have picked up the tab. Clearly they just didn’t want to pay for it,” Libowitz said. “They don’t really care about the ethical ramifications.”
Separately, Russian investigative outlet Proekt has reported that Kremlev is a native of Tajikistan who worked as a boxing promoter and developed links with Russia’s Federal Protective Service, which is responsible for protecting senior Russian officials.
Proekt has also reported that Kremlev is a member of the pro-Kremlin Night Wolves motorcycle club. Members of the group travelled to Crimea following Russia’s annexation of the peninsula in 2014, while some members have fought alongside pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
The disclosures come against the background of longstanding scrutiny of the Trump family’s contacts with Russians, including investigations arising from the 2016 US presidential election. Trump Jr.’s meeting at Trump Tower with Russians during that campaign was among the matters examined as part of the subsequent investigation.