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 announced Saturday he intends to appoint a new artificial intelligence adviser and establish an "AI force" to oversee the sector. He offered no specifics on structure or timing for the initiative.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated the administration would not hinder the industry's growth but would use existing criminal and civil justice systems to address misconduct. "We will cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows," he wrote.

Advisory Team Reshuffling

The appointment marks Trump's second person to serve as AI czar. Venture capitalist David Sacks held the position before departing in spring for an external advisory role. Sacks has argued that AI developers, not federal regulators, should bear responsibility for product safety.

Sriram Krishnan, the White House's senior AI policy adviser, also stepped down in June. Krishnan plans to launch an outside institution aimed at shaping AI policy.

Geopolitical Context

The announcement comes days before Trump's planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday. Washington and Beijing are currently competing for AI dominance.

The move also follows warnings from prominent AI figures urging a slowdown in development. These leaders cite risks that the technology could operate beyond human control.