Trump claims son Donald Trump Jr. repaid Russian oligarch for Bahamas wedding celebrations

On September 18, 2026, President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that his son Donald Trump Jr. had reimbursed Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev for hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on Trump Jr.'s Bahamas wedding celebrations in May. Trump dismissed ethical concerns as 'very common,' framing Kremlev as a friend. The statement followed a ProPublica investigation revealing Kremlev—a Putin ally under Ukrainian sanctions—bankrolled the private islands, fireworks, and event planning, and came as the House Oversight Committee opened an inquiry into the financial relationship. The ProPublica report and broader coverage appeared on September 19.

“When I heard the story, I asked him, and he said, 'I'm paying him back, Dad,' and that was a while ago. With all of that being said, I understand that Don's paid him back.” Quote verified against source