00:02Donald Trump Jr. and his new wife are responding to a report that a Russian oligarch with close
00:07ties to Vladimir Putin helped pay for their wedding celebration. Bettina Trump confirmed
00:12on Instagram that Umar Kremlev hosted two nights of celebrations after the couple got married in
00:17the Bahamas in May. The admission comes after ProPublica reported Monday Kremlev paid hundreds
00:23of thousands of dollars in expenses, including the rental of one of two private islands used
00:28for a three-day party and a fireworks show. Trump Jr.'s spokesperson did not dispute the payments
00:34but said Kremlev is a personal friend, not a business associate. The couple says their actual
00:39wedding was a separate private ceremony with family and the weekend with friends had already
00:43been planned. Kremlev heads the International Boxing Association. Last month, Putin awarded him Russia's
00:49order of friendship. Days before the wedding, Kremlev was also in China with a delegation
00:54accompanying Putin. In her post, Bettina Trump wrote,
00:58Our dear friend Umar very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us
01:02after our wedding. It was an extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend.
01:08She says they remain incredibly grateful.
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