President Donald Trump said Friday that his son, Donald Trump Jr., repaid International Boxing Association president Umar Kremlev for financing lavish gifts tied to his Bahamas wedding.

Oval Office Remarks Address Ethics Concerns

Speaking at the White House, Trump called the arrangement "totally allowed" and noted such gestures are common at weddings. He described Kremlev as a friend of his son’s.

Kremlev reportedly financed a private island rental and fireworks display worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Russian businessman has reported ties to the Kremlin, drawing scrutiny over potential foreign influence near the presidential family.

Couple Disputes Wedding Ceremony Link

Earlier this week, Trump Jr. and his wife, Bettina Trump, addressed the gifts on social media. They said the island gathering was not their wedding ceremony but an already planned weekend with friends.

The couple denied any political motive behind the gesture, describing their relationship with Kremlev as a friendship.

Previous Scrutiny Over Gifts

This is not the first time the wedding has faced ethics scrutiny. In May, Sen. Adam Schiff linked Trump’s initial absence from the ceremony to a separate $620 million conditional Pentagon loan for Vulcan Elements.

Trump Jr.’s investment firm, 1789 Capital, had an undisclosed stake in the company. Schiff described the loan as a taxpayer-funded "wedding present."

Gift-giving has repeatedly drawn scrutiny during Trump’s second term. In May 2025, Qatar’s royal family gifted the president a $400 million Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) 747-8 jet. In August 2025, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) then CEO Tim Cook presented Trump with a 24-karat gold-based plaque days before Apple secured a tariff exemption on imported chips.

Financial disclosures show Trump gave a total of $155,000 in holiday cash gifts to four close aides, including $45,000 to Natalie Harp.

President Donald Trump banned CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from the White House on Friday. He cited what he called "FAKE NEWS" coverage of his administration as the reason for the exclusion.

Trump stated that these outlets "shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES." He warned other news organizations could face similar restrictions if they continue such reporting.

Executive Justification

In an Oval Office briefing, Trump said there was no single story behind the decision. He described it as a response to "cumulative stories over the last few years." He added that outlets "purposely write negative news" to "diminish the Republicans and a Republican administration."

When asked about the scope of the ban, Trump said, "I don't want them in my office. I don't want them here. I would say the ban would go as far as you can."

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth backed the move on X. He said the Department of War "fully supports" the decision. Hegseth claimed the outlets had already "self-deport[ed] from the Pentagon" and accused them of endangering troops with "false stories, leaks, and" fictional accounts.

Legal Challenges Loom

CNN, owned by Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. (NASDAQ: WBD), called the threatened ban an illegal assault. The company stated it has a right under the U.S. Constitution to report without hindrance. CNN vowed to defend its team's fair and accurate reporting.

Politico, owned by privately held Axel Springer, wrote on X that it will "vigorously defend" its First Amendment rights. The outlet denied claims that it received government subsidies, calling them "false and thoroughly debunked."

Historical Precedent

Trump previously barred The Associated Press from the Oval Office and Air Force One. This occurred after the wire service declined to use his preferred name, "Gulf of America," for the Gulf of Mexico. The AP sued, and the case remains ongoing.

The tactic echoes his first term when he revoked CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's White House press credentials. CNN challenged that decision in court, and it was overturned.