President Donald Trump has reportedly ordered a review following allegations raised by Alina Habba. Habba accused former Kennedy Center executive director Ric Grenell of mishandling a multimillion-dollar donation linked to her husband.
Donald Trump reportedly ordered a review after Alina Habba accused former Kennedy Center chief Ric Grenell of mishandling a multimillion-dollar donation
The New York Post reported that Habba had raised the issue with Trump in the Oval Office on Friday. She alleged that Grenell played a role in the failure to deposit $5.6 million intended for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Trump reportedly referred the matter to White House Counsel Will Scharf for further examination.
An administration official told the New York Post that Habba’s husband, Turkish businessman Turhan Mildon, allegedly made a $17.6 million wire transfer in early 2025. The transfer was reportedly part of a business arrangement involving Grenell. According to the official, $5.6 million was supposed to go to the Kennedy Center.
However, the circumstances surrounding the transfer remain disputed. Sources close to the administration have pushed back against Habba’s allegations. One former Kennedy Center employee who handled donations claimed that she recalled only a $270,000 pledge, which was subsequently paid. According to her, there were no multimillion-dollar contributions as alleged.
Grenell, who previously served as US ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence, denied the accusation.
“Absurd. I’ve never asked for one cent to be sent somewhere else pretending it was for the Kennedy Center and I’ve never received any payment from him at all,” Grenell told the New York Post.
“Make him give proof to what he is saying, not make these absurd allegations.”
Meanwhile, officials said that Mildon’s lawyers had previously submitted documents to the White House counsel’s office to support his claims. The review aims to examine his allegations. The allegations of misappropriation have not been established.
