ProPublica reports Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev paid for Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding after-party

New reporting from ProPublica, as described by CT Mirror and WSHU, states that a Russian oligarch with ties to President Vladimir Putin paid for the wedding after-party of President Donald Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr. According to both outlets, Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding to Bettina Trump took place on a private island in the Bahamas in May and was a three-day celebration costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, with major elements — including the fee to rent the island and a fireworks show — paid for by Umar Kremlev. U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said in an 11-minute Senate floor speech on Tuesday that the matter amounts to 'corruption in plain view,' calling Kremlev 'one of Putin's favorites.'

Both outlets report that Murphy described Kremlev as a 'convicted criminal' who runs a boxing company funded by Putin, which Murphy said was funded more specifically by Gazprom, described by Murphy as Putin's state-run gas company. Murphy said Kremlev 'isn't just some ordinary oligarch.' Neither outlet provides further detail on the conviction or on the funding arrangements.

According to both sources, the newlyweds defended the spending in a social media post on Monday. They said the 'fun weekend with friends' had been planned before they decided to get married that Friday, and that they therefore made it part of their wedding celebrations. They stated that Umar 'very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us AFTER our wedding,' adding that 'it's unfortunate that something so personal and happy can be recast as something political or sinister simply because of who someone is or where they come from,' and that 'friendship doesn't require a political motive.'

Both outlets report that Murphy disputed that account, saying 'Putin doesn't pay for a wedding just to be nice' and describing it as 'an arrangement in plain sight.'

Both sources state that in the Tuesday speech Murphy accused Trump of souring on support for Ukraine in favor of Russia as part of the 'arrangement,' saying in part that 'Trump withholding support for Ukraine, pads the pocket of the Russian governments with sanctions relief, and the Russians funnel money to the family.'

Both outlets note that Murphy's speech is the latest in a series of his comments on business dealings connected to the Trump White House, including crypto ventures and the ballroom, and that Connecticut's federal delegation, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, has been among the most outspoken allies of Ukraine in Congress.

Where sources differ

• The two outlets identify Umar Kremlev's boxing role differently in their photo captions: CT Mirror describes him as 'International Boxing Association (IBA) President,' while WSHU describes him as 'General Secretary of the Russian Boxing Federation, member of the Executive Committee of the International Boxing Association (AIBA).'
• CT Mirror states the story was first published Sept. 15, 2026 by WSHU, while WSHU presents it as its own report published Sept. 15, 2026; CT Mirror also carries an AP photo credit line dated Oct. 19, 2023 in Perm, Russia, while WSHU carries a Kremlin pool photo dated Sept. 10, 2022 in Moscow.

• Neither source contains any statement or response from Umar Kremlev.
• Neither source contains any response from President Donald Trump or the White House to Murphy's remarks or to the ProPublica reporting.
• Neither source presents the ProPublica report directly, nor the documentation, sourcing, or methodology behind its claims.
• Neither source states whether any payment described was found to be unlawful, nor whether any investigation, subpoena, or enforcement action has been opened.
• Neither source states the year of the May wedding, nor any specific date for the social media post beyond 'Monday.'
• Neither source details the nature of Kremlev's reported conviction, the case, jurisdiction, or date.
• Neither source states the exact amounts paid or the full list of expenses covered.
• Neither source states whether Trump Jr. or his representatives were asked to comment on the ProPublica findings before publication.
• Neither source states whether Murphy's account of Kremlev's ties to Putin has been independently verified beyond the ProPublica reporting.

1. CT Mirror — original — by Molly Ingram | WSHU
2. WSHU — by Molly Ingram

Read the original at CT Mirror

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