Donald Trump defends son’s wedding expenses paid by Russian businessman

Donald Trump responded to questions about a Russian donor covering portions of the celebrations after Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding, stating that it is entirely acceptable for a friend to pay for such events. He said Trump Jr. informed him that the money would be given back. The donor, Russian businessman Umar Kremlev, paid for two of the three days of post-wedding parties held in the Bahamas, which featured private island use, helicopters, and fireworks.

Trump Jr. and his wife Bettina Anderson described Kremlev as a longtime friend and denied any business relationship. Kremlev, who leads the International Boxing Association and has ties to the Kremlin, has previously traveled with President Vladimir Putin. Ethics groups noted the appearance of a costly gift from a foreign national linked to a foreign government, though accepting such a gift is not illegal for a private citizen.