The White House has launched an internal investigation into former Kennedy Center director Ric Grenell following allegations that he helped broker a large financial transfer in exchange for access to the president and administration officials. The probe, first reported by Axios, also involves Trump adviser Alina Habba and her husband, Turkish businessman Turhan Mildon.
According to Axios, Habba told President Trump that Grenell directed her husband to send $17.6 million to a Texas-based defense and security firm, with roughly $5.6 million allegedly intended for the Kennedy Center. A text message reportedly provided to the White House promised Mildon VIP treatment, including access to senior officials and the president, in exchange for arranging the donation.
The allegation is serious, but key details remain murky. Financial records reportedly confirm a transfer to the company, but Axios noted that the money came from Congo's finance ministry, not directly from Mildon's personal accounts as initially suggested. The connection between that payment, a purported software deal in Congo, and the Kennedy Center donation has not been clarified.
The Kennedy Center has said it has no record of receiving the alleged $5.6 million contribution. Grenell has denied soliciting money under false pretenses and denied sending the disputed text. The White House is still investigating, including verifying the authenticity of the message.
This latest controversy lands amid a broader pattern of pay-for-access allegations swirling around the Trump administration. Just last month, Kimberly Guilfoyle was ousted as ambassador to Greece after The Wall Street Journal reported she sought $100,000 from a Republican donor to cover her American Express bill while he sought her help with personal legal and IRS matters.
Separately, The Washington Post reported that donors who contributed to the White House ballroom fund had significant business before the federal government. And the president's clemency decisions have raised eyebrows, including the pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who reportedly donated expensive software to help the Trump family launch a cryptocurrency shortly before receiving a pardon.
These instances feed public concern that the president and his inner circle are using the office for personal enrichment. A recent poll found 70% of Americans doubt Trump will accept midterm defeats, reflecting broader distrust in the administration's ethics.
Trump has ordered an investigation into Grenell, which is a positive step. But the standard should be applied uniformly, including to the president himself. The public deserves a thorough examination of the evidence, not just a cursory review. Follow the money, check the facts, and remove anyone who is grifting.
