President Trump confirmed on Friday afternoon that Donald Trump Jr. has reimbursed the Russian businessman who initially financed his wedding afterparty in the Bahamas, The Wall Street Journal reported . The president addressed the situation while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, noting that he had discussed the matter with his son. Regarding the repayment, the president said, “He said, ‘No, I’m paying it back, Dad.’”
The afterparty, which spanned two days on private islands, was originally funded by Umar Kremlev. Kremlev is a Russian businessman known for his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has also been sanctioned by Ukraine due to his involvement with the organization Healthy Fatherland, which is accused of participating in the mass abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children. Additionally, Kremlev is linked to the Night Wolves, a motorcycle club that works to bolster nationalism and support for Putin.
The news of the financing drew significant criticism from both sides of the aisle. Sen. John Curtis posted a video on social media this week expressing his disapproval of the arrangement. He stated that the payment “just stinks” and characterized the situation as “corruption.”
Donald Trump Jr. and his wife, Bettina, have defended the original arrangement as a simple gift from a friend
In a statement posted to Instagram last week, the couple wrote, “We were and remain incredibly grateful.” They also noted, “It’s unfortunate that something so personal and happy can be recast as something political or sinister simply because of who someone is,” and added, “Generosity doesn’t automatically come with an agenda.”
Trump on his son's wedding being bankrolled from a Russian oligarch close to Putin:
— Headquarters (@HQNewsNow) September 18, 2026
"It's totally allowed… Don's paid him back." pic.twitter.com/2DQO2S8hj6
You can see the scale of the event in photos that surfaced from the celebration, which featured fireworks, a multi-tiered cake, and a DJ booth marked with the letters B and D. While the event looked quite extravagant, President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were not in attendance. The president defended the initial arrangement during his comments on Friday, telling reporters that he believes such gifts are “totally allowed” and common for wedding celebrations.
A person close to Donald Trump Jr. has since confirmed that the reimbursement to Kremlev was completed.
