Donald Trump bashed his son Donald Trump Jr behind closed doors over the lavish wedding party he hosted earlier this year that was bankrolled by a Russian oligarch, according to a new report.
The president privately aired his grievances with his aides over the spectacle, which he did not attend, citing the ongoing Iran war that was occupying his time, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Russian businessman Umar Kremlev partially paid for the post-wedding party in the Bahamas, but Trump allegedly complained that this was bad judgment from his son.
Trump has said Don Jr paid back Kremlev following the Caribbean party in May.
The president’s eldest son tied the knot with the 39-year-old socialite Bettina at a Palm Beach ceremony before heading to the Caribbean for a luxury reception.
Bettina addressed the rumors and posted a series of never-before-seen photos on September 14, calling the Russian national ‘our dear friend Umar.’
She said that he ‘very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us’ before making clear that the party he paid for was ‘after our wedding.’
The couple had 18 guests at the ceremony and 50 people at the reception.
Donald Trump privately bashed his son’s decision to let a Russian oligarch fund his wedding party earlier this year, according to the WSJ. Trump is pictured here on October 24 arriving at the White House
Bettina Trump addressed the rumors about who paid for her May wedding party and posted never-before-seen photos on Instagram. She is pictured with her husband, the president’s eldest son Don Jr, at the party
Oligarch and friend of Vladimir Putin, Umar Kremlev, partially funded the couple’s nuptials
She ended the fiery statement by telling her followers: ‘Friendship doesn’t require a political motive. Generosity doesn’t automatically come with an agenda.’
Bettina wrote on Instagram at the time: ‘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.
‘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.
Donald Trump Jr and Bettina at the couple’s lavish bridal shower at Mar-a-Lago in April
‘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 went with them to the Bahamas.
A spokesperson for Eric said in a statement he ‘has absolutely no clue who this person is, nor has he ever heard his name.’
The revelation of the Russian businessman bankrolling Don Jr’s lavish wedding afterparties drew scrutiny from House Oversight Democrats.
Representative James Walkinshaw, a Democrat on the committee, wrote on X, ‘A Putin-connected Russian oligarch secretly bankrolled Don Jr.’s lavish wedding. Putin’s circle doesn’t spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on the President’s family for nothing. What was he expecting in return? We need answers.’
Representative Robert Garcia, the committee’s ranking Democrat, also questioned the payments, writing, ‘Why did a Russian oligarch close to Putin fund Trump Jr.’s wedding in the Bahamas? Umar Kremlev spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the President’s son. What did he get in return? We need answers.’
The White House and Don Jr’s representatives have been contacted for comment.
