Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) on Sunday sharply criticized Donald Trump Jr. for accepting lavish gifts from a Russian businessman with close ties to the Kremlin, saying the appearance of such transactions undermines public trust in Washington.
"Anytime someone gives you a $250,000 gift and they have strong ties to the Kremlin, that's wrong," Cassidy told CBS's "Face the Nation." He added that anyone "with that proximity to power, being the president's son, you've got to give faith to the American people that Washington is not a swamp."
Cassidy acknowledged that Trump Jr. repaid the benefactor, Umar Kremlev, who heads the International Boxing Association and is linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I'm glad it's been repaid," Cassidy said, but stressed that "it shouldn't have been done in the first place."
The comments make Cassidy at least the third Republican senator to publicly rebuke Trump Jr. over the gifts, which were first reported by ProPublica. Kremlev reportedly paid for a private island rental and fireworks display for a three-day post-wedding celebration in the Bahamas for Trump Jr. and his wife Bettina.
Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) went further, calling the arrangement "corruption" in a video posted Friday. "A Russian oligarch paid for a lavish wedding after-party for Donald Trump Jr. which to me just stinks. It's corruption, I don't like it," Curtis said.
Bettina Trump defended the arrangement on social media, describing Kremlev as a "dear friend" who "very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations" after the private family ceremony.
President Trump dismissed the controversy on Friday, saying his son did nothing wrong and had repaid Kremlev. "It's totally allowed," the president told reporters. "But as I understand it, he paid him back."
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) previously called the financing "beyond bad," while Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said he needed more details before commenting.
The episode has reignited debates over ethics and foreign influence in U.S. politics, with critics pointing to the need for stronger safeguards against such entanglements. As the story develops, it also adds to broader scrutiny of the Trump family's business dealings and their intersection with political power.
