You’ve undoubtedly heard by now that Don Jr.’s wedding was paid for by Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev, who, according to The Guardian, “has spent the past decade moving through some of Russia’s most politically connected circles.” The article in The Guardian lays out Kremlev’s evolution from convictions for extortion and assault to boxing promoter to a global, if controversial figure in world boxing. The International Olympic Committee withdrew its recognition of the International Boxing Association over its governance, finances, and refereeing after he became the head of that organization. Among other business interests, The Guardian reports that he “effectively control[s] three of the country’s largest betting companies” and that he has given all of the credit for his rise to Vladimir Putin. “Thanks to one person, today there are really all kinds of opportunities to earn money and to strive for more,” he said in a video interview in 2024. “That person, of course, is our president, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.”
Imagine Hunter Biden letting an associate of Putin’s pay for his wedding, or one of Obama’s daughters doing the same. The scandal would be through the roof. But it’s worse because of the younger Trump’s role investing in defense firms and all the access and information that comes with that. The Washington Post started a July article like this: “President Donald Trump’s sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump have amassed a portfolio of defense technology start-ups that are benefiting from new Pentagon priorities and spending.” Those defense start-ups “have collectively generated at least $3.2 billion in direct government business since the sons invested and an additional $3.1 billion in future contract options. Some have gained coveted spots on shortlists of preapproved contractors that can bid exclusively on up to nearly $200 billion in future work.” While many of these companies were already doing work with the government, Trump Jr.’s proximity to and knowledge of their work and his entanglement with the Russian oligarch are too close for comfort. Even if nothing improper is happening, it’s more than enough to undermine public confidence. And for what? A party? Trump Jr.’s new wife, Bettina Trump, took to Instagram to explain why there was nothing to look at here.
She doesn’t seem to be taking this seriously… ProPublica reported on details of the wedding weekend: “On May 24, Donald Trump Jr. was celebrating in the Bahamas, as scantily clad dancers in stilettos and sailor caps performed for him and his guests. It was the last night of his wedding, a lavish, three-day party held across a pair of ultra-exclusive private islands. A five-tier Funfetti cake had been airlifted in from Florida, and helicopters and seaplanes descended on the islands before guests settled into their oceanfront villas. That night on the beach, Trump Jr. lifted his bride into the air while fireworks launched from a barge over the sea.” They estimated the bill he footed at “hundreds of thousands of dollars.” including renting out a private island and funding a fireworks show. “It was really small, like, just really close friends,” ProPublica reported that Trump Jr. said on his podcast. Kremlov, reportedly, does not speak much English and was “part of a large group whose presence puzzled other attendees. They sometimes stood off by themselves, speaking Russian.” That doesn’t exactly sound small, or intimate. That level of access by a Russian insider to the President’s immediate family is extraordinary.
A couple of issues here. Whether it’s the wedding or just some random weekend long party for your friends, when you’re the president’s son and a defense contractor, there’s a real issue if you let a Russian oligarch foot the bill. (Interestingly, Donald Trump didn’t attend—could it be this was too much for even the president’s team to stomach? One can almost hear Chief of Staff Susie Wiles telling him “No!”) And wow. “Our dear friend Umar.” Because everyone wants to have dear friends who are linked to child trafficking. ProPublica reported that Kremlev “is also heavily involved in an organization called Healthy Fatherland, run by his 23-year-old wife’s twin sister. The group — which promotes healthy eating and youth sports — is under Ukrainian sanctions for its alleged role in a program of abducting Ukrainian children from occupied territories and relocating them under the guise of ‘rehabilitation.’” ProPublica notes that Healthy Fatherland didn’t respond to a request for comment, which seems odd. One would expect them to be eager to reject that allegation. It was, in Bettina’s words, “a generous gift,” but it’s unlikely it came without strings. And let’s pretend for a minute it was just that, a gift; the appearance of impropriety alone would have counseled anyone with good judgment against accepting it. But the Trumps don’t care. They’ve really never cared who knows they’re close to Putin’s inner circle. That seems to be a big part of the problem with what Trump has done to our country.
Here’s her finish. She’s not embarrassed by the child trafficker. She has no intention of apologizing for an error in judgment of epic proportions. But while Americans are dying in Trump’s wars—and dying in Ukraine without American support for the battle they’re fighting for the West—at least she had her Russian funded “one hell of a party.” ProPublica reported that “In the days leading up to Trump Jr.’s wedding, Kremlev was in China as part of the delegation accompanying Putin, according to Chinese state media. The month before, Putin had bestowed him with a state honor, the Order of Friendship. The Ukrainian government has imposed sanctions on Kremlev personally, citing his closeness to Putin and Russian security services.” At best, Trump Jr. and his new bride lack anything resembling good judgment. At worst, they’re beholden.
But Attorney General Todd Blanche was as unfazed by the prospect of someone in Putin’s circle shelling out “gifts” worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to the president's son as the bride was. During an unusual press briefing at the White House today, he told reporters, “The president’s son has said that he’s a very close friend, and that he accepted a gift in the weekend of his wedding.” Blanche said he didn’t know Umar, as though that somehow settled the matter. It’s never been more essential to reestablish a Congress that will act as a check and balance on this president. Robert Garcia, the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, suggested there needs to be an investigation into what the Russian expects in return. New York Senator Chuck Schumer put it like this: “What did Donald Trump Jr. say in his defense? ‘Sometimes a wedding gift is simply a wedding gift.’ Not in this case, baby. You’re dealing with a Russian oligarch, not just a cousin who’s giving you a gift … sometimes a wedding gift is a bribe from a foreign autocrat.” Congrats to the newlyweds. As lawyers like to say, res ipsa loquitur. The thing speaks for itself. Civil Discourse is free because I believe everyone should have access to reliable information and analysis about what our government is doing—and why it matters. But putting the newsletter together isn’t free. Paid subscribers make it possible for me to do this work every day. If you read Civil Discourse regularly and you’re able to become a paid subscriber, this is a good moment to do it. Your subscription doesn’t just benefit you; it helps keep Civil Discourse available to everyone. And right now, people need to know what’s happening, understand what it means, and be able to share what they’re thinking with the people around them. That’s the community that we’ve built here, and the work we continue to do. We’re in this together, Joyce You're currently a free subscriber to Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance . For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
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