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PoliticsQuiet 3d · day 10

Trump says son will repay Russian oligarch who bankrolled his Bahamas wedding

After ProPublica revealed Umar Kremlev funded much of Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding, congressional Democrats opened an investigation and GOP senators are now demanding proof of repayment.

newest coverage 3d agosummary written 3d ago1.2k pieces71k likes & upvotes4.8k comments NewswiresMastodonBlueskyRedditXHacker NewsYouTubeGoogle News

Part of a larger narrative

Trump Jr. Russian Wedding Funds Scandal

2 stories · since Sep 13 · newest 15h ago — Questions escalate about whether Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding was funded by a Russian oligarch with close ties to Putin, triggering calls for official…

  1. GOP Senator Curtis Demands Senate Probe and Subpoena of Trump Jr. Over Russian-Funded Wedding
  2. Trump says son will repay Russian oligarch who bankrolled his Bahamas weddingyou are here

What to know

  • ProPublica documented that Umar Kremlev, a Putin-linked Russian oligarch and IBA president, paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for Trump Jr.'s Bahamas wedding via a Dubai entity.
  • House Oversight Democrat Robert Garcia has opened a records request investigation, calling it possibly the most serious allegation against Trump Jr. to date.
  • President Trump initially downplayed the payments as covering only an 'afterparty' and 'not a big deal,' but later said his son would repay Kremlev.
  • Republican senators Curtis and Cassidy have broken with the administration's framing, calling the arrangement corrupt and demanding proof of repayment.

The dispute Some commenters treat the family's distinction between the 'wedding' and the Kremlev-funded 'afterparty' as a meaningful clarification, while most dismiss it as spin meant to minimize the corruption concern. · positions read across 883 posts and comments

most voices

This is direct evidence Russia has financial leverage over the Trump family and a national security threat.

  • “The Russians own the Trumps. The Trumps are destorying this country and making Putin more powerful. See how that works?”

    nonnieida.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
many voices

There's a double standard: Republicans would be outraged if a Democrat's family took this money, but are silent or spinning for Trump.

  • “What a relief! Trump Jr.’s wife said that “russians paid only for the after-parties, but not the actual wedding.” That changes everything. No connection to russia. I am shocked by the reaction from MAGA.”

    @rshereme · X ↗
some voices

It's baffling that a billionaire family needed someone else to pay for a wedding at all, separate from the corruption angle.

  • “The corruption aside, which is major, do they pay for anything with their own money??”

    phillysky.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗

Donald Trump Jr.Donald Trump Jr. President's sonUmar Kremlev Russian oligarch, IBA presidentPresident TrumpPresident Trump U.S. PresidentRobert Garcia Top Democrat, House Oversight CommitteeBill CassidyBill Cassidy Republican U.S. Senator (LA)John CurtisJohn Curtis Republican U.S. Senator (UT)

Trump says son will repay Russian oligarch who bankrolled his Bahamas wedding
bsky.app

How it unfolded 6 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesvideospostscomments

Peak 246 pieces in 3h at Sep 14, 7 AM; 1231 pieces over 10 days (238 articles · 7 videos · 287 posts · 699 comments) Sep 13, 7 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Mastodon 1Sep 13, 10 PM — quietSep 14, 1 AM — quietSep 14, 4 AM — 98 pieces · 3 articles · 26 posts · 69 comments — Bluesky 76, Mastodon 17, Reddit 2, +2 moreSep 14, 7 AM — 246 pieces · 9 articles · 40 posts · 197 comments — Bluesky 212, Mastodon 16, Reddit 5, +4 moreSep 14, 10 AM — 180 pieces · 47 articles · 25 posts · 108 comments — Bluesky 107, Newswires 47, Mastodon 16, +2 moreSep 14, 1 PM — 113 pieces · 24 articles · 1 video · 24 posts · 64 comments — Bluesky 69, Mastodon 15, Newswires 12, +3 moreSep 14, 4 PM — 115 pieces · 15 articles · 2 videos · 27 posts · 71 comments — Bluesky 81, Mastodon 18, Newswires 11, +3 moreSep 14, 7 PM — 45 pieces · 7 articles · 12 posts · 26 comments — Bluesky 25, Mastodon 7, Reddit 6, +3 moreSep 14, 10 PM — 22 pieces · 1 article · 8 posts · 13 comments — Bluesky 15, Mastodon 6, Newswires 1Sep 15, 1 AM — 12 pieces · 3 articles · 6 posts · 3 comments — Mastodon 6, Bluesky 4, Newswires 2Sep 15, 4 AM — 21 pieces · 7 articles · 9 posts · 5 comments — Bluesky 6, Mastodon 6, Newswires 5, +2 moreSep 15, 7 AM — 17 pieces · 8 articles · 2 videos · 6 posts · 1 comment — Newswires 7, Mastodon 4, Reddit 3, +2 moreSep 15, 10 AM — 36 pieces · 25 articles · 1 video · 8 posts · 2 comments — Newswires 25, Mastodon 5, Reddit 3, +3 moreSep 15, 1 PM — 18 pieces · 9 articles · 8 posts · 1 comment — Newswires 5, Mastodon 4, Google News 4, +2 moreSep 15, 4 PM — 59 pieces · 8 articles · 16 posts · 35 comments — Bluesky 40, Mastodon 10, Newswires 3, +3 moreSep 15, 7 PM — 44 pieces · 7 articles · 10 posts · 27 comments — Bluesky 28, Mastodon 9, Newswires 4, +1 moreSep 15, 10 PM — 22 pieces · 4 posts · 18 comments — Bluesky 19, Mastodon 2, X 1Sep 16, 1 AM — 7 pieces · 1 post · 6 comments — Bluesky 7Sep 16, 4 AM — 13 pieces · 13 comments — Bluesky 12, Reddit 1Sep 16, 7 AM — 15 pieces · 2 posts · 13 comments — Bluesky 14, Mastodon 1Sep 16, 10 AM — 10 pieces · 7 posts · 3 comments — Bluesky 7, Reddit 1, Mastodon 1, +1 moreSep 16, 1 PM — 4 pieces · 1 article · 1 post · 2 comments — Bluesky 2, Mastodon 1, Google News 1Sep 16, 4 PM — 1 piece · 1 comment — Bluesky 1Sep 16, 7 PM — 3 pieces · 2 posts · 1 comment — Mastodon 2, Bluesky 1Sep 16, 10 PM — quietSep 17, 1 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Reddit 1Sep 17, 4 AM — 2 pieces · 2 posts — Reddit 2Sep 17, 7 AM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Newswires 1, Mastodon 1Sep 17, 10 AM — quietSep 17, 1 PM — 3 pieces · 1 post · 2 comments — Bluesky 2, Mastodon 1Sep 17, 4 PM — 1 piece · 1 comment — Reddit 1Sep 17, 7 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Bluesky 1Sep 17, 10 PM — quietSep 18, 1 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 18, 4 AM — quietSep 18, 7 AM — quietSep 18, 10 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — X 1Sep 18, 1 PM — 3 pieces · 3 posts — Mastodon 2, Bluesky 1Sep 18, 4 PM — 35 pieces · 25 articles · 1 video · 9 posts — Newswires 15, Mastodon 9, Google News 9, +2 moreSep 18, 7 PM — 7 pieces · 4 articles · 3 posts — Newswires 4, Mastodon 2, X 1Sep 18, 10 PM — 5 pieces · 2 articles · 2 posts · 1 comment — Reddit 2, Google News 2, Mastodon 1Sep 19, 1 AM — 9 pieces · 4 articles · 4 posts · 1 comment — Mastodon 3, Reddit 2, Newswires 2, +1 moreSep 19, 4 AM — 10 pieces · 4 articles · 2 posts · 4 comments — Reddit 5, Mastodon 2, Newswires 2, +1 moreSep 19, 7 AM — 8 pieces · 2 articles · 3 posts · 3 comments — Reddit 3, Mastodon 2, Google News 2, +1 moreSep 19, 10 AM — 17 pieces · 12 articles · 3 posts · 2 comments — Newswires 10, Reddit 3, Mastodon 2, +2 moreSep 19, 1 PM — 8 pieces · 4 posts · 4 comments — Reddit 4, Mastodon 3, Bluesky 1Sep 19, 4 PM — 1 piece · 1 comment — Reddit 1Sep 19, 7 PM — quietSep 19, 10 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 20, 1 AM — 2 pieces · 1 post · 1 comment — Reddit 1, Mastodon 1Sep 20, 4 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Reddit 1Sep 20, 7 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Bluesky 1Sep 20, 10 AM — 6 pieces · 6 articles — Newswires 6Sep 20, 1 PM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Sep 20, 4 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Mastodon 1Sep 20, 7 PM — quietSep 20, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 1 AM — quietSep 21, 4 AM — quietSep 21, 7 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 1 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 1 AM — quiet 1–23456
Sep 14Sep 15Sep 16Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22now · 3:57 AM ET
  1. 6

    Sen. Bill Cassidy demands proof of repayment

    Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said on Face the Nation that he wants documentation confirming Trump Jr. actually paid back Kremlev for the wedding expenses.

    1. 6 outlets Trump Says His Son Will Pay Back Russian Businessman for Wedding Party

      first by New York Times, 3d ago · also WSJ, CNN, HuffPost, Washington Examiner, The New York Times

      5 more headlines
    • propublica.org

      For their lavish Bahamas wedding, Donald Trump Jr. and his wife received a very special gift: hundreds of thousands of dollars of wedding expenses, including a private island rental. Just who is this very generous “friend?” Listen to what we know:

      propublica.orgBluesky3d ago599▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 4 posts in this stretch
    • TCatInReality@mastodon.social

      😂😂😂😂 Yeah, sure he will. I'm sure any payback will come straight from Junior's pocket. Just like I'm sure there was never an exchange of favours with their "dear friend Umar" (a quote from the new Mrs Jr) /s # AlwaysAGriftWithTrump Trump Says His Son Will Pay Back Russian Businessman for Wedding Party https://www…

      TCatInReality@mastodon.socialMastodon3d ago7▲view on Mastodon ↗

    • What are we doing with the Russians at all in the first place? They’ve made it clear since the end of WW2 they’re on a different path, even if they gave millions of lives to end the war. I respect the tenacity, albeit the disregard for the lives of their countrymen was pretty messed up.. it’s a marriage gone sour- we had our divorce during the…

      onthehill1r/politics4d agoview on r/politics ↗
    all of them →
  2. 5

    Trump says his son will repay Kremlev

    President Trump said Donald Trump Jr. had decided to return the money for the wedding celebrations funded by Kremlev, while defending the gift, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, as permissible.

    “totally allowed…”
    — President Trump
    1. 14 outlets Trump says son reimbursed Russian oligarch who funded wedding celebrations

      first by Kyiv Independent, 5d ago · also The Telegraph, Meduza EN, SCMP, The Hill, Hindustan Times, Straits Times +7

      9 more headlines
    2. 10 outlets 'He's paying him back': Trump defends Russian oligarch funding his son's Bahamas wedding

      first by The Times of India, 4d ago · also Times of India, Independent UK, Bloomberg, New York Post, NY Post, Washington Post +3

      8 more headlines
    4 more claims →

    • DOES ANYONE REALLY BELIEVE THE MONEY WAS PAID BACK? At a press conference yesterday Donald Trump confirmed that a Russian billionaire- and close friends with Putinp- paid for Don Junior’s wedding. But then Trump added that Don JR has since repaid the mone. Your Thoughts?

      @DougWahl1X4d ago2.2k▲view on X ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 19 posts in this stretch
    • propublica.org

      NEW: On social media and in tabloids, photos from Don Jr. and Bettina Trump’s Bahamas wedding were tightly curated. But sometimes, what — or, who — isn’t pictured is just as important as what is. Let’s go on an investigative, visual tour.

      propublica.orgBluesky4d ago2.0k▲view on Bluesky ↗
    • SeanCasten@mastodon.social

      The convicted felon who told you he has a healthcare plan and will give you $5000 and didn’t rape E Jean Carroll and won the 2020 election and COVID is a hoax and was at the towers on 9/11 wants you to know his son paid the emolument back. https://www. washingtonpost.com/politics/20 26/09/18/trump-says-son-has-paid-back-russian-wedding-party/

      SeanCasten@mastodon.socialMastodon4d ago40▲view on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  3. 4

    Republican Sen. John Curtis calls the payments corruption

    Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) publicly criticized the arrangement as improper, becoming one of the first Republicans to break from the White House's dismissal of the story.

    “A Russian oligarch paid for a lavish wedding after-party for Donald Trump Jr., which, to me, it just stinks. It’s corruption, I don’t like it… this is a big deal.”
    — Sen. John Curtis
    • propublica.org

      Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev footed the bill for hundreds of thousands of dollars of expenses at Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding, including renting out a private island. National security experts say it raises an urgent question: What motivated Kremlev to spend a fortune cultivating the connection?

      propublica.orgBluesky6d ago864▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 19 posts in this stretch

    • Republican Senator John Curtis: “A Russian oligarch paid for a lavish wedding after-party for Donald Trump Jr., which, to me, it just stinks. It’s corruption, I don’t like it… this is a big deal.”

      @RpsAgainstTrumpX5d ago731▲view on X ↗
    • ProPublica@newsie.social

      This week, ProPublica revealed that a Russian oligarch close to President Vladimir Putin bankrolled Donald Trump Jr.’s Bahamas wedding festivities. Join our reporters on Sept. 23 for a behind-the-scenes conversation. 🗓️ RSVP: https:// events.propublica.org/don-jr-w edding # Journalism # Media # Russia # Putin # DonaldTrumpJr # Wedding # Politics…

      ProPublica@newsie.socialMastodon6d ago57▲view on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  4. 2 days quiet
  5. 3

    Rep. Robert Garcia opens House Oversight investigation

    The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee sent letters to the White House and Trump Jr. seeking records of his financial relationship and communications with Kremlev, calling it one of the most serious allegations against him.

    “may be the most serious allegation against you to date…”
    — Rep. Robert Garcia
    1. 15 outlets Putin-linked Russian oligarch paid for Trump Jr.’s wedding

      first by UPI, 8d ago · also PennLive, The New World, Media Matters for America, ABC News, The Bulwark, CBS News +8

      16 more headlines
    2. 8 outlets Kremlin-backed Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev funded Donald Trump Jr.’s post-wedding celebrations in the Bahamas

      first by El Pais English, 8d ago · also Independent UK, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, The Hill, The Times of India, Guardian US +1

      10 more headlines
    2 more claims →
    • propublica.org

      NEW: Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, has launched an investigation into Donald Trump Jr.’s relationship with a Russian oligarch who paid for much of the president’s son’s Bahamas wedding earlier this year.

      propublica.orgBluesky8d ago3.9k▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 173 posts in this stretch

    • What a relief! Trump Jr.’s wife said that “russians paid only for the after-parties, but not the actual wedding.” That changes everything. No connection to russia. I am shocked by the reaction from MAGA. If a russian oligarch had covered the bills for Biden or Obama, there would

      @rsheremeX7d ago2.6k▲view on X ↗
    • ProPublica@newsie.social

      NEW: Top Oversight Dem Opens Investigation of Donald Trump Jr.’s Russian Oligarch-Funded Wedding Rep. Robert Garcia said the revelations that Umar Kremlev had bankrolled the wedding raise “serious national security and public corruption concerns” and requested the president’s son provide financial and other records about the arrangement…

      ProPublica@newsie.socialMastodon8d ago149▲view on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  6. 2

    Trump Jr. and Trump confirm and defend the arrangement

    Trump Jr. and Bettina Trump issued a joint statement confirming Kremlev funded the celebrations as a friendship gift, while President Trump said in a White House statement that Kremlev paid only for an 'afterparty,' calling it 'not a big deal.'

    “Our dear friend Umar very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us…”
    — Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Trump
    1. 32 outlets Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding partially funded by Russian oligarch, ProPublica reports

      first by Washington Times, 9d ago · also Meduza EN, abc7NY, ABC News, Associated Press, Esquire, The Washington Sun +25

      30 more headlines
    2. 8 outlets What we know about the Putin ally who allegedly funded Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding

      first by Axios, 9d ago · also New Republic, Sky News, The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, Times of Israel, BBC +1

      8 more headlines
    1 more claim →

    • Molly, let's get the actual facts straight. According to Don Jr.’s new wife, their “dear friend Umar” (who only coincidentally is Russian oligarch and a friend of President Putin) did not pay for their wedding; he merely “hosted two incredible nights of celebrations … AFTER

      @gtconway3dX9d ago6.8k▲view on X ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 472 posts in this stretch
    • axios.com

      A Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin provided hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of funding for Donald Trump Jr.'s May wedding in the Bahamas, according to a ProPublica investigation.

      axios.comBluesky9d ago1.2k▲view on Bluesky ↗
    • anneapplebaum@journa.host

      Some details: Kremlev, the Russian who sponsored Don Jr's wedding, is a former member of the Night Wolves biker gang, went to China with Putin and is personally sanctioned by Ukraine for his role in abducting children https://www. propublica.org/article/donald- trump-jr-wedding-bankrolled-russian-oligarch-umar-kremlev-putin

      anneapplebaum@journa.hostMastodon9d ago383▲view on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  7. 1

    ProPublica reveals Kremlev secretly bankrolled the wedding

    ProPublica reported that Kremlev, head of the Gazprom-financed International Boxing Association and a close Putin associate, paid for the private island rental, villas, and a $70,000 fireworks show through a Dubai-based IBA entity.

    “If I’m paying for your wedding, at some point, you’re going to owe me something.”
    — Frank Montoya Jr.
    • propublica.org

      Look at this photo we found from Donald Trump Jr.’s lavish Bahamas wedding. Can you spot the Russian oligarch close to Putin who bankrolled the event? 🧵

      propublica.orgBluesky9d ago4.5k▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 196 posts in this stretch

    • Donald Trump Jr.’s lavish Bahamas wedding was secretly bankrolled by a Russian oligarch close to Putin—ProPublica

      @RpsAgainstTrumpX9d ago3.5k▲view on X ↗
    • newsguyusa@flipboard.social

      Pro Publica - Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding in the Bahamas was heavily funded by a secret benefactor: Umar Kremlev, a Russian oligarch close to President Putin. https://www. propublica.org/article/donald- trump-jr-wedding-bankrolled-russian-oligarch-umar-kremlev-putin

      newsguyusa@flipboard.socialMastodon9d ago87▲view on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  8. background

    Trump Jr. holds lavish three-day Bahamas wedding — Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Trump held a three-day wedding celebration across two private Bahamian islands, later revealed to have been partly funded by Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev, who attended with a group of Russian guests.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 4 outlets Don Jr. and Bettina Anderson Fire Back at Explosive Report That Russian Oligarch Partially Funded Wedding: ‘NO CONSPIRACY , NO MYSTERY’

    first by Mediaite, 9d ago · also CBS News, OutsideTheBeltway, Washington Examiner

    4 more headlines
  2. 3 outlets Trump Jr.'s wedding party was paid for by Putin ally, confirms wife, Bettina

    first by MS NOW, 9d ago · also Newsweek, New Republic

    2 more headlines
  3. 2 outlets US Democrats demand answers on Trump Jr.’s ties with Russian oligarch

    first by Politico Europe, 8d ago · also Politico

    1 more headline
  4. 2 outlets Putin-tied oligarch behind Don Jr.'s wedding exposed

    first by All Rise News, 9d ago · also Independent UK

    2 more headlines
  5. 2 outlets Top Oversight Democrat wants answers on Russian oligarch’s role in Trump Jr.’s wedding

    first by The Hill, 9d ago · also Yahoo

and 10 smaller pieces

What people are saying 12 voices from 4 sites · best of 883 · verbatim

Still unanswered
  • What did Kremlev and Putin expect in return for the payments?
  • What kind of intelligence or leverage could have been gathered at parties attended by people close to the Trump family?
  • Will there be documented proof that Trump Jr. actually repaid Kremlev?