Trump Son Spent Two Days With Sanctioned Russian Boxing Chief in Mongolia

Donald Trump Jr. spent two days at a private hunting camp in western Mongolia with Umar Kremlev, the head of the International Boxing Association, according to a report by the Financial Times. The trip took place at the end of August. Kremlev, a Russian oligarch and former head of the Russian Boxing Federation, flew from Kazakhstan to Ulaanbaatar and then traveled to the camp. He was accompanied by Arthur Martirosov, a partner in the US-sanctioned venture fund Voskhod.

Local guides and officials told the newspaper that the two men took care to avoid being photographed together during their stay. One participant said the pair maintained a low profile at the site. A spokesperson for Trump Jr. stated that the two share a personal friendship based on outdoor interests, including hunting and fishing. The spokesperson said a mutual acquaintance introduced them and emphasized that there are no business ties between the men. "Don has made clear that he has a personal friendship, not a business relationship, with Umar," the spokesperson said.

Counterintelligence experts argue that such interactions carry inherent risks regardless of the participants' intentions. Holden Triplette, who served as the director of counterintelligence at the US National Security Council during the first Trump term, explained that Russian intelligence services often seek to exploit relationships with high-value targets. "It really doesn't matter if people have the most above board intentions," Triplette said. "The moment the Russian security and intelligence services figure out someone has a relationship with anyone of high value, they will try to weaponise that."

During the Mongolian trip, Trump Jr. also hunted a rare Altai argali, an endangered species of wild sheep. He met with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh during his visit. Kremlev, who is 43, has led the Russian Boxing Federation since 2017 and currently heads the international governing body based in Lausanne.

The recent trip follows earlier scrutiny of the relationship between the two men. In early October, Kremlev claimed that Trump Jr. returned funds the Russian had spent on post-wedding celebrations. US Attorney General Todd Blanche has stated he will not investigate the wedding, which received partial funding from Kremlev. Members of the president's family have denied knowing the boxing chief, while Democratic lawmakers have promised to begin an investigation.

The Financial Times reconstructed the itinerary using flight data, social media posts, public documents, and interviews with local officials. The report details the movements of Kremlev and his associate from their arrival in the capital to their departure after the two-day camp stay.