Donald Trump Jr. and his wife, Bettina, fired back at critics over their controversial wedding celebrations. The couple addressed reports linking their Caribbean ceremony to a Russian billionaire with ties to Vladimir Putin.
Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Trump defend wedding celebrations funded by Umar Kremlev
Bettina Trump, wife of Donald Trump Jr., defended their wedding celebrations after reports revealed Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev funded them. ProPublica first reported that Kremlev heavily bankrolled the Caribbean wedding. The billionaire also attended the private ceremony with roughly 50 guests.
Kremlev maintains ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has faced accusations of attempting to influence American elections. He was also recently seen in China as part of a Putin delegation.
“Don and I got married privately … surrounded ONLY by our family,” Bettina Trump wrote on Instagram. She added that Kremlev “very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us AFTER our wedding.” She also stated that “friendship doesn’t require a political motive” and “generosity doesn’t automatically come with an agenda.”
Retired FBI official Frank Montoya Jr. offered a different perspective to ProPublica, according to The Hill. He noted that oligarchs typically work in coordination with the Russian government. “If I’m paying for your wedding, at some point, you’re going to owe me something,” Montoya said. He added that “this should be unthinkable for the son of the president.”
A spokesperson for Trump Jr. did not dispute Kremlev’s wedding payments to ProPublica. The spokesperson described Kremlev as a personal friend, not a business associate. They reportedly bonded over shared interests in boxing and the outdoors.
Bettina Trump shared wedding photos, saying “fake news travels fast.” However, most photos did not include Russian guests. She wrote, “NO CONSPIRACY , NO MYSTERY. Just a private family wedding.” President Trump did not attend the May ceremony, citing the Iran situation and other government matters.
