Melania Trump is pushing back on any suggestion that she had ties to the Russian businessman who helped bankroll lavish celebrations surrounding Donald Trump Jr.’s recent Bahamas wedding.
A spokesperson for the first lady told The Times that Melania “does not, and has never had, a relationship” with Umar Kremlev, the Russian businessman and president of the International Boxing Association who reportedly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on festivities for Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson, now Bettina Trump.
The spokesperson also said Melania had no role in organizing the event and knew nothing about its finances.
Neither Melania nor President Donald Trump attended the May wedding.
The denial comes after a ProPublica investigation revealed that Kremlev paid substantial expenses connected to the couple’s three-day celebration in the Bahamas.
According to records reviewed by ProPublica and interviews with people familiar with the festivities, Kremlev paid to rent a private island where guests stayed and where one of the receptions was held. His team also helped with planning, while he covered other major expenses, including a large fireworks display.
ProPublica reported that the island rental cost roughly $100,000 and that the company behind the fireworks show typically charges about $70,000 for a display of that size.
Trump Jr. and Bettina later confirmed that Kremlev had paid for two nights of celebrations.
In a joint statement posted to Bettina’s Instagram account, the couple called Kremlev a “dear friend” and described his contribution as an extraordinarily generous wedding gift.
They also pushed back on suggestions that the gift carried a political motive, arguing that friendship and generosity should not automatically be treated as something sinister.
Their original statement can be viewed on Bettina Trump’s Instagram page. View Bettina Trump’s Instagram post
The couple stressed that Kremlev did not pay for the actual wedding ceremony.
Trump Jr. and Bettina exchanged vows on May 22 in an intimate gathering of only 18 guests. The wider celebrations continued for another two days, however, including events that Kremlev helped finance.
President Trump has made the same distinction.
In a statement released after the original report, Trump said he had never heard of Kremlev and argued that the Russian businessman paid for an “afterparty,” not his son’s wedding.
ProPublica reported, however, that one of the Kremlev-funded celebrations took place on May 23 on the same island where the ceremony had been held. The following day, guests traveled by boat to another private island for a reception that included the couple’s first dance, a five-tier wedding cake and fireworks.
Kremlev himself attended the wider wedding weekend but, according to Trump Jr.’s spokesperson, was not present for the small May 22 ceremony.
Trump Jr.’s representative told ProPublica that the two men are personal friends rather than business partners and said they met through a mutual acquaintance in the hunting world before bonding over boxing and outdoor sports.
Kremlev’s press office similarly said the men have known each other for several years and insisted that Kremlev has not discussed politics with Trump Jr.
The relationship is attracting attention in Washington because of Kremlev’s connections in Russia.
Kremlev heads the International Boxing Association and has appeared publicly wit
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