Trump adviser Richard Grenell exits Kennedy Center amid missing-donation probe
The gist
Richard Grenell, a top Trump adviser, stepped down as Kennedy Center president as the White House probes a nearly $6 million missing donation.
The feud pits him against a former Trump lawyer and exposes money-and-access fights inside Trump's circle.
How it unfolded
- May 3, 2025A text message reviewed by Axios, allegedly from Grenell, outlined a pay-for-influence offer to a Turkish billionaire: access to the president, VIP events and administration officials.
- 2025Habba told the president and White House staffers that Grenell persuaded Turhan Mildon to fold a multimillion-dollar Kennedy Center donation into a lump-sum $17.6 million payment for a business deal involving a U.S. company.
- Last monthGrenell was notably absent from Mildon and Habba's $10 million wedding, which Trump world officials and power brokers attended.