Putin pal responds to Trump’s claim that Don Jr. paid him back for wedding

Umar Kremlev, the Russian head of the International Boxing Association, confirmed Tuesday that Donald Trump Jr. paid him back for part of the Bahamas wedding festivities he had underwritten in May. Speaking at a press conference in Istanbul, Kremlev said he was puzzled by the repayment and compared it to a host sending a bill to a guest. Neither he nor the Trump family offered evidence that any money changed hands, according to The Independent.

ProPublica, reviewing records, found Kremlev covered hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs for the three-day celebration marking Trump Jr.'s marriage to Bettina Anderson, among them a private island rental and a fireworks show. Funds reportedly passed through a Dubai entity the boxing association uses for transactions. President Donald Trump told reporters the support was permitted but that his son had reimbursed the host. Bettina Trump has described Kremlev as a dear friend and the festivities as a gift.

Kremlev, who received the Order of Friendship from Vladimir Putin, has led the boxing body since 2020, shifting its operations to Russia and relying on Gazprom money. The International Olympic Committee withdrew its recognition in 2023. He earlier served sentences for extortion and battery.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at The Independent →