Bettina Anderson, the wife of Donald Trump Jr., confirmed on Monday that Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev hosted a portion of their post-wedding celebrations on a private island in the Bahamas as a generous wedding gift. The confirmation followed a ProPublica report alleging that the couple’s Bahamas wedding festivities were secretly bankrolled by a Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin. Anderson described Kremlev, the secretary general of the International Boxing Federation and an ally of the Russian president, as a dear friend who hosted two nights of festivities following their private family wedding. President Trump did not attend the wedding or the subsequent events, citing his responsibilities in Washington. Anderson explained that the weekend had been planned well in advance as a gathering with friends and was never intended to be their actual wedding weekend. When their original plans shifted, they decided to marry beforehand and arrive at the pre-planned gathering as newlyweds. She emphasized that friendship does not require a political motive and that they would never apologize for being grateful for their friends from around the world, adding that there was no conspiracy. Forbes estimates Donald Trump Jr.’s net worth is approximately $300 million, and CBS News has reached out to the Trump Organization regarding why the executive vice president accepted the gift. Kremlev’s press office stated that he and Trump Jr. share a friendly relationship after meeting a couple of years ago and have never discussed political matters. Meanwhile, President Trump stated Monday evening that he had never heard of Umar Kremlev, noting that the oligarch did not pay for the wedding itself, which occurred at a different location and day, but rather an afterparty given in their honor.
Source: cbsnews.com
