Trump Jr. Claims He Repaid Putin Ally for Wedding Expenses, Says Russian Boxing Chief

Trump Jr. says he repaid a Putin ally for wedding costs, but the Russian boxing leader calls it 'ridiculous.'

October 7, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Moscow, Russia — A Russian boxing official has responded to claims that Donald Trump Jr. reimbursed him for part of the costs of the president’s eldest son’s luxury wedding in the Bahamas, calling the idea “ridiculous.”

Umar Kremlev, head of the International Boxing Association and a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, confirmed that Trump Jr. returned the money he had spent on the event, but questioned why the repayment was necessary. “It is as if I invite you to come and visit my country house. Would you expect me to issue an invoice to them afterward?” Kremlev said through an interpreter.

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Kremlev, who was recently awarded the Order of Friendship by Putin, helped fund the three-day wedding celebration in May, which included a private island rental and a fireworks display. The expenses reportedly came from a Dubai-based entity linked to the International Boxing Association. While Trump defended his son’s actions, stating that the payment was very common, neither side provided proof of the transaction. Kremlev dismissed the controversy, calling the event a shared celebration and saying people had blown it out of proportion.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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