Donald Trump Jr.'s other wedding secret: He got a facelift for oligarch-supported bash
Published in Political News
Donald Trump Jr. apparently wanted to look his best for the glossy, heavily produced images that his new influencer wife shared of their lavish destination wedding to the Bahamas in May — which the couple recently admitted was partially funded by a Russian businessman with ties to the Kremlin.
To appear as strong and square-jawed as possible for the three-day wedding extravaganza, the 48-year-old Trump Jr. decided to address a defining feature of his physiognomy — his receding chin. Before exchanging vows with Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson, the son of President Donald Trump underwent a custom, nonsurgical face-lifting procedure to “better define his jawline for the occasion.”
Trump Jr.’s cosmetic procedure was revealed in a blockbuster new report by Pro Publica. That report mainly focused on how the real estate executive, cryptocurrency entrepreneur and MAGA firebrand allowed Umar Kremlev, an oligarch with close ties to Vladimir Putin, to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to help finance some of the wedding celebrations that he enjoyed with Bettina and his famous family members, including his brother, Eric, sisters Ivanka and Tiffany, and their spouses, including Lara Trump and Jared Kushner.
But the Pro Publica report also linked to a lengthy post by the Palm Beach medical spa that shared Trump Jr.’s adventure in cosmetic procedures. Pure Skin Palm Beach, which said it specializes in regenerative aesthetics, skin health and anti-aging treatments, explained that the medical spa hosted the couple for a range of treatments as part of their “wedding journey.”
The spa said its staff had a long relationship with the new Mrs. Trump, describing her as a loyal client, “dear friend,” and “incredible brand ambassador.” The spa also emphasized that it can “take time” to achieve natural results. “That’s why we recommend beginning your bridal plan 6-12 months before your wedding so every treatment can be thoughtfully planned around your schedule, lifestyle, and goals,” the post said.
Bettina Trump’s journey included regenerative hair restoration, customized facials, wrinkle relaxers and wellness IV therapy, the post said. “We even rejuvenated Bettina’s hands so they would beautifully showcase both her stunning wedding ring and the cherished locket carrying her father’s photograph — details that made her wedding day even more meaningful,” the post said.
As for Trump Jr., the post said that spa staff enjoyed getting to know him and helping him prepare for his big day with what’s known as ultherapy treatment. The Cleveland Clinic said this nonsurgical procedure uses ultrasound to “lift and tighten loose skin by stimulating collagen in the very deep layer of the facial muscle.” Ultherapy specifically “can be used to lift and tighten the skin of your face and neck,” the Cleveland Clinic also said.
For the jawline, the aim is to make the contours of the lower face appear sharper without surgically altering the underlying bone, the Daily Beast also reported. Ultherapy typically costs around $2,000 to $3,000 for a treatment, but can set recipients back up to $5,000, the Daily Beast also said.
It’s not known if Trump Jr. paid for his ultherapy treatment himself, or if he and his bride received some of their treatments free or discounted as part of a sponsored content arrangement — which is pretty typical in the influencer industry. The Daily Beast said Trump Jr. did not respond to requests for comment about his ultherapy treatment.
Among other things, the Pro Publica report raised questions about Trump Jr.’s willingness to let other people pay for his luxuries, even though he can probably afford them himself. Forbes recently estimated that his net worth is around $300 million, with Pro Publica suggesting he could probably could have footed the entire bill for his wedding.
According to records reviewed by ProPublica and people familiar with the event, Trump Jr. let Kremlev cover the cost to rent out one of two private islands used for the celebrations, which included a wedding after-party and a fireworks show.
As The New York Times wrote, the payments by Kremlev represent “an extraordinary flouting of ethical norms for an American president’s family.” To avoid foreign influence, a president’s family is generally expected to avoid accepting personal and pricey gifts, particularly from someone from a country like Russia, “an adversary known to surreptitiously push its geopolitical agenda,” the New York Times said. Ethics experts told the Times that a foreign actor “could ply a president’s family member with gifts and eventually expect something in return.”
During the after-party that Kremlev reported paid for, scantily clad dancers in stilettos and sailor caps performed for Trump Jr. and his guests in what Pro Publica described as “Monte Carlo meets frat party.” That night, Trump Jr. also was photographed on the beach, lifting his bride into the air, as fireworks launched from a barge over the sea. “It was everything we dreamed of and more,” Bettina Trump later wrote on Instagram.
Other critics of the wedding previously said it looked like the couple wanted to re-create the aesthetics of an even more famous island wedding that took place 30 years ago and that also starred the son of an American president — who was somewhat younger than Trump Jr. at the time.
“Looks like you two copied-(catted Carolyn Bessette) Kennedy and John F. Kennedy Jr.,” someone replied to Trump Jr.’s Instagram post. “Down to the little chapel, her hair and gown. Why be original when you can copy ... Camelot,” someone else said.
During the three-day Bahamian getaway, Trump Jr. and Bettina married in a small white chapel on one of the two islands, with Bettina Trump walking down the aisle in a sleeveless, silky white slip dress — which was very reminiscent of the sleeveless, silky, bias-cut slip dress worn by Bessette at her Sept. 21, 1996, wedding to Kennedy Jr.
In a response to the Pro Publica story, Bettina Trump dismissed any ethical concerns. On Instagram, she lamented that anyone would try recast “something so personal and happy” for her husband as “something political or sinister simply because of where someone is from.”
But to provide “a little clarity,” Bettina Trump said: “Our dear friend Umar very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us AFTER our wedding. It was an extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend, and something for which we were and remain incredibly grateful.”
Bettina Trump specifically insisted that Kremlev didn’t pay for the wedding ceremony itself and was not present in the chapel. However, he could be seen in a group photo at one of the after-wedding parties, according to a social media photo posted by a friend of the bride, Pro Publica reported.
Near the end of her post, Bettina Trump said there was “no conspiracy, no mystery” to their wedding trip. “Just a private family wedding, a wonderful weekend with friends and one hell of a party,” she said.
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