MSNBC host Rachel Maddow has highlighted a report revealing that Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding events in the Bahamas were attended and secretly financed by Umar Kremlev, a Russian oligarch with ties to Vladimir Putin. The ProPublica report states that Kremlev covered hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses, including private island rentals and a fireworks show for the intimate, approximately 50-person affair.
Maddow stated on air that the situation was "unthinkable" for the president's son, adding, "But that’s our life now." She noted that Trump Jr. and his wife's statement suggested Kremlev did not pay for the wedding itself but rather the weekend following the ceremony. Maddow also pointed out that despite Trump Jr. describing the event as a small gathering for close friends, some of his long-time friends were reportedly disappointed not to be invited.
Kremlev, who speaks limited English, reportedly puzzled guests at the wedding. The report indicates he had only recently met Trump Jr. He has been involved with Russian state-affiliated entities, including the national lottery and the International Boxing Association, which was financed by the Russian state-owned energy company Gazprom.
Former President Donald Trump dismissed the report, stating it was "not a big deal" that Kremlev financed part of his son's wedding. This statement comes despite a Senate Intelligence Committee conclusion that Russia worked to help Trump win the 2016 election.