Donald Trump Jr. and Russian Boxing Chief Umar Kremlev Shared a Two Day Hunt in Mongolia

Donald Trump Jr. spent two days hunting in western Mongolia with Umar Kremlev, the president of the International Boxing Association, according to a report by the Financial Times. The trip took place at the end of August, and the two men stayed at the same hunting camp in the western part of the country before Kremlev returned to the capital, Ulaanbaatar.

The Financial Times reconstructed the itinerary using flight data, social media posts, public documents, and accounts from local guides and officials. Kremlev flew by charter plane from Kazakhstan to Ulaanbaatar. He was accompanied by Arthur Martirosov, a Russian businessman and partner in the venture fund Voskhod, which is currently under US sanctions.

A local participant in the trip told the newspaper that Trump Jr. and Kremlev took care not to be photographed together while at the camp. A spokesperson for Trump Jr. stated that the men share a personal friendship built on outdoor recreation and that a mutual acquaintance from the hunting community introduced them. The spokesperson emphasized that there are no business ties between them, noting, "Don has made clear that he has a personal friendship, not a business relationship, with Umar."

Holden Triplette, who served as director of counterintelligence on the US National Security Council during Trump's first term, told the Financial Times that such contacts carry risks regardless of intent. He warned that Russian security and intelligence services often try to weaponize relationships with high value individuals once they identify them.

During the visit, Trump Jr. hunted a rare Altai argali, an endangered wild sheep, and met with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh. Kremlev, 43, has led the Russian Boxing Federation since 2017 and serves as president of the International Boxing Association, which is headquartered in Lausanne.

The trip adds to existing questions about the relationship. In early October, Kremlev claimed that Trump Jr. had returned money the Russian spent on post-wedding celebrations he organized. US Attorney General Todd Blanche has said he will not investigate the wedding, which was partly funded by Kremlev. Members of the president's family have denied knowing Kremlev, while Democrats in Congress have promised to launch an investigation.