Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Trump have acknowledged that Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the lavish Bahamas celebration held after their wedding.
Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, married 39-year-old model and socialite Bettina in Palm Beach in late May. The newlyweds later traveled to the Bahamas for an extravagant reception.
President Trump was not present for his son’s wedding ceremony, with national security duties cited as tensions and the war with Iran intensified.
A report published Monday said Kremlev, a wealthy businessman and associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, helped cover part of the costs connected to the couple’s wedding festivities.
The report alleged that Kremlev financed the rental of a private island, a fireworks display and other expenses that reportedly ran into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
According to ProPublica, Kremlev’s team was also involved in organizing the Bahamas celebration.
Bettina Trump responded to the reports Monday by sharing a collection of previously unseen wedding photos and describing the Russian businessman as “our dear friend Umar.”
She said Kremlev had “very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us,” while emphasizing that the events he funded took place “after our wedding.”
Bettina Trump addressed the reports in a Monday post featuring previously unseen photographs, referring to the Russian businessman as “our dear friend Umar.”
The couple are pictured at Bettina Trump’s bridal shower in April.
Oligarch and friend of Russian President Putin, Umar Kremlev, partially funded the couple’s nuptials
Bettina and Don Jr. had 18 guests at the ceremony and 50 people at the reception of their Bahamas celebration earlier this year.
She ended the fiery statement by telling her followers: ‘Friendship doesn’t require a political motive. Generosity doesn’t automatically come with an agenda.’
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Mrs Trump wrote on Instagram this morning: ‘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.
‘The weekend that followed had actually been planned well in advance as a fun weekend with friends. It was never intended to be our wedding weekend. When our original wedding plans changed, we simply decided to get married before it and arrived at an already planned weekend as newlyweds.
‘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.
‘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.
Bettina and Don Jr. had 18 guests at the ceremony and 50 people at the reception of their Bahamas celebration. The president’s son tied the knot with 39-year-old socialite and model Bettina at a Palm Beach ceremony late May
Bettina Trump ended the fiery statement by telling her followers: ‘Friendship doesn’t require a political motive. Generosity doesn’t automatically come with an agenda’
‘We are fortunate to have wonderful friends from all over the world, and we will never be embarrassed or apologetic about being grateful for them.
‘So, for anyone determined not to let the facts get in the way of a good story: NO CONSPIRACY , NO MYSTERY. Just a private family wedding, a wonderful weekend with friends and one hell of a party.
‘And since fake news travels fast, we figured the truth deserved a few pictures.’
She signed off the post with the caption: ‘With love and gratitude, Don & Bettina.’
The couple celebrated their wedding with Don Jr’s siblings, Eric, 42, and Ivanka, 44, who also came with them to the Bahamas afterwards.
The couple’s marriage certificate, obtained by the Daily Mail, shows that they officially became husband and wife in a secret ceremony held at the West Palm Beach home of Anderson’s sister, Kristina McPherson.
Anderson said she would be taking the Trump surname.