Donald Trump Jr has repaid a Russian oligarch who reportedly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for a lavish party in the Bahamas to celebrate his wedding.
President Donald Trump revealed the news to reporters during an event at the White House on Friday afternoon when asked to react to the news.
‘I hear he paid him back. I understand that Don paid him back,’ Trump said, even though he argued that it was ‘totally allowed’ and ‘very common’ for people to pay for parties.
Umar Kremlev, a Russian oligarch and international boxing figure reportedly paid for celebrations surrounding their wedding, which included renting a private island and a fireworks display.
But the appearance of a lavish favor from a Russian oligarch with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, appeared to be too controversial for the family, prompting Trump Jr to make changes.
A source familiar with Donald Trump Jr’s response to the controversy confirmed to the Daily Mail that he paid Kremlev back for the party.
President Trump said he spoke to his son about it after the news broke in ProPublica on Monday.
President Donald Trump told reporters that he spoke with his son who planned to repay a Russian oligarch who paid for a lavish party to celebrate his wedding in the Bahamas
Donald Trump Jr. and his wife Bettina Anderson were married in May
Oligarch and friend of Vladimir Putin, Umar Kremlev, partially funded parties surrounding the couple’s nuptials
Kremlev’s press office told ProPublica the two men became friends based on their common interests in boxing, hunting and the outdoors.
At first, Trump Jr and his new wife Bettina Anderson defended the party, insisting that Kremlev was a ‘dear friend’ who offered them ’an extraordinarily generous wedding gift.’
Bettina disputed the idea that accepting the generous financial support from a Russian national for the celebrations was inappropriate.
‘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,’ she wrote.
Other members of the family, however, distanced themselves from Kremlev.
A spokesperson for First Lady Melania Trump distanced her from Kremlev in a statement to the Daily Mail.
‘Mrs. Trump does not, and has never had, a relationship with Mr. Kremlev. Mrs. Trump played no role whatsoever in organizing the wedding event and was not privy to any aspect of its financial planning,’ the statement read.
First Lady Melania Trump distanced herself from the Trump Jr. wedding
Bettina Trump addressed the rumors about who paid for her May wedding party and posted never-before-seen photos on Instagram on Monday
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Trump Jr’s brother Eric, also distanced himself from Kremlev.
‘Eric has absolutely no clue who this person is, nor has never heard his name,’ his spokesman told ProPublica.
The reports prompted widespread accusations of corruption from Democrats as well as public criticism from even some Republicans.
‘To me it just stinks. It’s corruption, I don’t like it…this is a big deal,’ Republican Senator John Curtis of Utah said in a video published to social media.
