Trump Son Spent Two Days With Russian Boxing Chief in Mongolia
Flight data and local accounts show Donald Trump Jr. and Umar Kremlev shared a hunting camp in western Mongolia in late August.
By Christopher Singh ·
Donald Trump Jr. traveled to Mongolia at the end of August for a hunting trip that included a two-day stay at a camp with Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev. The Financial Times detailed the itinerary using flight records, local interviews, and social media posts. The report indicates the two men were together at a site in the western part of the country.
Kremlev arrived in Ulaanbaatar from Kazakhstan on a charter plane. He then moved to the hunting camp accompanied by Arthur Martirosov, a Russian businessman and partner in the sanctioned Voskhod venture fund. After the two-day period, Kremlev returned to the capital city. One local participant told the newspaper that the pair avoided being photographed together while at the camp.
A spokesperson for Trump Jr. stated that the two men share a personal friendship based on hunting, fishing, and outdoor activities. The spokesperson said a mutual acquaintance in the hunting community introduced them and denied any business ties. "Don has made clear that he has a personal friendship, not a business relationship, with Umar," the spokesperson said. The representative added that the joint trip "shouldn't be a surprise to anyone."
Holden Triplette, the former director of counterintelligence on the US National Security Council, noted that such contacts carry risks regardless of intent. He told the Financial Times that Russian security services often attempt to weaponize relationships with high-value individuals. "It really doesn't matter if people have the most above board intentions," Triplette said.
During the visit, Trump Jr. also hunted a rare Altai argali, an endangered wild sheep, and met with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh. Kremlev, 43, serves as president of the International Boxing Association. He has led the Russian Boxing Federation since 2017.
This trip follows earlier questions about the relationship between the two men. In early October, Kremlev claimed that Trump Jr. returned money the Russian had spent on post-wedding celebrations. US Attorney General Todd Blanche stated he will not investigate Trump Jr.'s wedding, which Kremlev partly funded. Members of the president's family have denied knowing Kremlev, while Democratic lawmakers have promised to launch an investigation.
