Trump Counsel Probes Claim of Missing Kennedy Center Donation
President Trump directed his White House counsel to examine Alina Habba's allegation that Ric Grenell failed to deposit a nearly $6 million donation from her billionaire husband to the Kennedy Center. Grenell rejected the claim as absurd and false. The dispute between two senior Trump advisers provided a rare view of the overlap between power, influence, and money in Trump's Washington.
The dispute centers on a donation reportedly made roughly a year before the Oval Office meeting. Habba’s husband is described as a billionaire, and The Daily Beast reported that he allegedly faced possible U.S. sanctions less than a year earlier over suspected ties to Venezuela’s government. Other commentary cited a New York Times implication about a concrete contract connected to Delcy Rodríguez and suggested Grenell had once been the husband’s Venezuelan contact. Grenell rejected the allegation as ridiculous and untrue.
The president asked White House counsel to review the allegation, according to administration officials and insiders. The clash between two senior advisers offered a rare look at money and influence in the president’s orbit.
The episode may reinforce public concerns about how private wealth and access operate within federal institutions, including cultural bodies like the Kennedy Center. It could affect donor confidence and staff morale at the center, while the White House counsel review may shape perceptions of accountability. The public may see it as a test of whether official processes can resolve serious allegations involving senior advisers.