WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday defended his son's recent wedding party being partially bankrolled by a Russian oligarch, but also said he'd been told the money would be paid back.
“It’s totally allowed. And a lot of people have parties and all,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, before adding, “But, as I understand it, he paid them back.” He also said, “I hear he paid them back” without elaborating.
ProPublica first reported this week that Umar Kremlev, who has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, helped pay to rent a private island and for a fireworks show when Donald Trump Jr. and socialite Bettina Anderson were married in the Bahamas in May.
In a subsequent post on her Instagram page signed by the couple, Bettina Trump wrote that Kremlev, head of the International Boxing Association, was a “dear friend” who “very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us AFTER our wedding.”
In the post, Bettina Trump said she and the president’s son were married in a private ceremony “surrounded ONLY by our family.”
Still, the president — who did not attend the wedding, saying at the time he was too busy — defended Kremlev's involvement as part of the festivities. Without providing details he said of his son, “a person that he knows — I guess a friend of his — gave him a wedding party.”
“That's very common,” Trump said, adding, “I've given wedding parties to numerous people,” while also seeming to suggest that there was no background check done for these kinds of gifts.
“With all of that being said, I understand that Don's paying him back,” Trump said.
The president also divulged for the first time that he'd previously heard about Kremlev's involvement, saying of his son, “I asked about it."
"He said, ‘No, I’m paying him back, Dad,"’ Trump said as he recalled their past conversation, which he noted had occurred “a while ago.”
“So I heard he's paying him,” Trump said.
ProPublica reported that the wedding was heavily funded by Kremlev, including that he “footed the bill for hundreds of thousands of dollars" in expenses like renting out one of two private islands where the three-day party was held.
The gift came as Russia remains at war with Ukraine following its invasion more than four years ago, and as Trump has failed to broker a promised peace deal between both sides.
Kremlev was recently honored with the Order of Friendship by Putin, according to the International Boxing Association. He also accompanied Putin to China as part of a Russian delegation, according to the Chinese state media cited by ProPublica.
Donald Trump Jr, center, speaks with his wife Bettina, left, as they wait for U.S. President Donald Trump to deliver remarks to U.S. embassy staff at Deerfield Residence in Dublin, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Carson Wentz will start at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, with Kyler Murray still in the NFL concussion protocol and ruled out for the game at Chicago.
Murray was a limited participant in practice all week and simply ran out of time to make more more progress after taking an illegal hit to the head in the first quarter of his debut for Minnesota in the season opener.
Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said he expects Murray to clear the protocol early next week and be able to play at Tampa Bay on Sept. 27.
“Kyler showed a lot of progress,” O’Connell said. “He’s doing well.”
Murray took a jarring hit to the side of his helmet that drew an unnecessary roughness penalty on Green Bay safety Javon Bullard, leaving Murray in the type of defensive pose that can accompany brain trauma.
Because Murray didn't slide feet first and forward, he left himself open to contact, even though Bullard's lowered shoulder was deemed excessive as Murray ducked toward the turf.
“He plays with such explosiveness that he was trying to go feet-first, but he ended up going kind of sideways,” O'Connell said. “The game speed and the velocity of the play ended up putting him in a risk-worthy opportunity there for him to get hurt, and luckily it seems to be we avoided anything serious. Just how he’s feeling, I’m very encouraged about what next week looks for him.”
The eighth-year player — who signed with the Vikings after being released by Arizona — was eventually able to slowly walk off the field under his own power. He was alert and interacting with teammates in the locker room afterward and looked spry on the practice field this week.
Wentz threw three touchdown passes in relief of Murray to help the Vikings close the game with 29 consecutive points in their 39-22 victory. J.J. McCarthy will be the No. 2 quarterback at Chicago. Against Green Bay, McCarthy was the emergency No. 3 quarterback who can only enter the game if the first two are injured.
The Vikings also ruled out wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who hasn't practiced all week because of a personal family matter. Running back Jordan Mason is also out for at least four games because of a broken thumb. Right tackle Brian O'Neill was listed as questionable with a knee injury that occurred in practice on Wednesday, but O'Connell said he was encouraged by how O'Neill looked on the field on Friday.
Missing Murray, Mason and Jennings will be a challenge in a game the Vikings will likely need a high score to win against a Bears team that put up 59 points last week, but Wentz will at least be more prepared this time than having to come in cold against the Packers.
“It was good to get a lot of reps in, and even just building the game plan and being part of those conversations a little bit more attentively this week,” Wentz said. “It was a good week.”
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell responds to a question during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray (1) scrambles under pressure from Green Bay Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (56) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) drops back to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)
