Hunter Biden went after Donald Trump Jr and his new bride Bettina over their expensive wedding party, which was partially funded by a Russian oligarch the couple have called a "dear friend."
The Trumps admitted on Tuesday that Umar Kremlev, a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, partially funded the couple's nuptials, following a report a day earlier. Bettina Trump had addressed the rumors on Monday, posting a series of never-before-seen photos and calling the Russian national "our dear friend Umar."
Hunter Biden, who has previously accused fellow first son Don Jr of corruption, took to social media to ridicule the newlyweds. "Don Jr needed a Russian oligarch, two islands, and a fireworks show," he said. "I got married on the rooftop of an apartment building in West Hollywood. It was so much cooler."
The post featured a photo of Biden embracing Melissa Cohen, whom he married within ten days of meeting her in 2019. The South African activist married Hunter in Los Angeles on May 16 of that year, just weeks after reports surfaced that he had ended a two-year relationship with his late brother Beau's widow, Hallie Biden.
Don Jr, the current president's eldest son, tied the knot with the 39-year-old socialite at a Palm Beach ceremony in late May before heading to the Caribbean for a luxury reception. Donald Trump did not attend the wedding, citing national security responsibilities as the war with Iran escalated. Tensions in the Middle East also forced the couple to dramatically scale back their White House wedding plans.
Kremlev's role in the celebrations
Kremlev allegedly helped finance the party, including the rent of the private island Little Pipe Key, a fireworks show and hundreds of thousands of dollars in other expenses. His team also planned the wedding party, according to the nonprofit news site ProPublica.
Bettina said Kremlev "very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us," making clear that the party he paid for was "after our wedding." The couple had 18 guests at the ceremony and 50 people at the reception. She closed her statement by writing: "Friendship doesn't require a political motive. Generosity doesn't automatically come with an agenda."
Bettina's Instagram statement
Bettina wrote on Instagram on Monday: "Don and I got married privately on Friday, surrounded ONLY by our family. It was intimate, deeply personal and one of the most beautiful days of our lives." She said the weekend that followed had been planned well in advance as "a fun weekend with friends" and was never intended to be their wedding weekend, but that when their original plans changed, they decided to marry before it.
"Our dear friend Umar very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us AFTER our wedding," she wrote, calling it "an extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend." She added: "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."
"So, for anyone determined not to let the facts get in the way of a good story: NO CONSPIRACY, NO MYSTERY. Just a private family wedding, a wonderful weekend with friends and one hell of a party. And since fake news travels fast, we figured the truth deserved a few pictures," she wrote, signing off "With love and gratitude, Don & Bettina."
Family reaction and scrutiny
The couple celebrated with Don Jr's siblings, Eric, 42, and Ivanka, 44, who traveled with them to the Bahamas. A spokesperson for Eric said he "has absolutely no clue who this person is, nor has he ever heard his name."
The revelation that a Russian businessman bankrolled Don Jr's wedding afterparties is now drawing scrutiny from House Oversight Democrats. A marriage certificate obtained by the Daily Mail shows the couple officially wed in a secret ceremony at the West Palm Beach home of Bettina's sister, Kristina McPherson. The model said she would be taking the Trump surname.
The private island's past
The private island where the couple celebrated has its own airstrip with customs clearance and is described as a "members only sanctuary" with villa estates, private yacht facilities and personalized butler service. Accommodation costs at least $1,400 per person per night, and the island is reachable only by chartered plane or boat.
The island once served as the headquarters of Pablo Escobar's Medellin drug cartel, with kingpin Carlos Lehder using it as a smuggling base between 1978 and 1982.
A delayed wedding
The couple had initially pushed their wedding date to the fall, fearing a blowout bash during the Iran conflict would hand critics an easy shot at Don Jr's father. With no end to the war in sight, they instead held a smaller Palm Beach wedding followed by an island celebration for close family and friends over Memorial Day weekend.
A source said at the time: "They're waiting for the right moment because of what's happening in the world." Another insider said: "Bettina and Don Jr are very anxious to maintain secrecy over this. They had the engagement at Camp David, which was really controlled, and they want to maintain that level of control with the wedding. I think this is something they just want to get through, get it done, so they can get on with their lives, move on to the next chapters for all the things they want to achieve."
The couple got engaged in December 2025, exactly a year after Daily Mail photos showed them leaving a Palm Beach restaurant holding hands, despite Don Jr still being officially engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle at the time. The Daily Mail reached out to Don Jr for comment and has not heard back.
