Trump claims Don Jr has repaid Russian Oligarch who footed bill for his wedding celebrations

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Friday, September 18, said his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., repaid Russian businessman Umar Kremlev after Kremlev covered expenses for Don Jr.’s wedding celebrations earlier this year.

Trump said he understood that Kremlev had been reimbursed for parts of the festivities surrounding the May 21 wedding in the Bahamas. Trump’s clarification came after ProPublica reported that Kremlev had funded several wedding-related expenses and after Trump initially said he had never heard of him.

Trump says Don Jr repaid Kremlev after wedding expenses

Trump said Kremlev’s payment for portions of Don Jr.’s wedding festivities was permissible but added that his son did not want to retain the benefit. “It’s totally allowed, and a lot of people have parties, but it’s totally allowed.”

Trump said of the favor given by Umar Kremlev, who is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, “But as I understand it, he paid him back. He didn’t want to have that, so I hear he paid him back.” A source familiar with the matter told the New York Post that Kremlev had been made whole payment but did not specify how much money was repaid.

Trump then compared the arrangement to wedding celebrations he has hosted for other people, saying he has previously provided parties for newlyweds at his properties. “I’ve given wedding parties to numerous people,” Trump said. “They get married. I give them a party. I give them parties at beautiful places like Mar-a-Lago and others. But I’ve given many. With all of that being said, I understand that Don’s paid him back.”

The controversy over the funding of Don Jr.’s wedding began after a ProPublica report alleged that Kremlev covered several expenses connected to Trump Jr.’s May 21 wedding festivities in the Bahamas. According to the report, Kremlev paid for an additional private island used for the reception as well as a fireworks display.

Kremlev, 43, is the head of the International Boxing Association and has ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He attended the wedding, which had about 50 guests. Trump Jr.’s siblings Eric, Ivanka, and Tiffany Trump also attended; however, Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and Barron Trump did not.

Trump, Bettina respond after report on wedding funding

However, Trump’s latest comments differ from his statement on Monday, September 14, when he was first questioned over the reports. Trump had said that he has “no idea who Umar is, never heard of him.” Earlier in the week, a spokesperson for Melania Trump also said that “Mrs Trump does not, and has never had, a relationship with Mr Kremlev.”

Bettina Trump, Don Jr.’s wife, has defended Kremlev’s involvement, describing him as a close friend who gave the couple a wedding gift. She said the celebrations Kremlev hosted occurred after the couple had already married.

“Our dear friend Umar very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us after our wedding,” she wrote on Instagram. “It was an extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend, and something for which we were and remain incredibly grateful.” Bettina added that “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."