Ric Grenell calls the missing-donation accusation 'an absurd claim'
Richard GrenellFormer president of the Kennedy Center and U.S. special presidential envoy for special missions, in a post on X
Replying to Axios, Ric Grenell calls the accusation absurd, says he never asked for one cent to be sent somewhere else pretending it was for the Kennedy Center and never received any payment from him, and demands proof. The Daily Beast reports that Grenell was referring to Mildon.
“It’s an absurd claim. 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. Make him give proof to what he is saying, not make these absurd allegations.”
Original post
Original post
Reporting
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Alina Habba says Ric Grenell never deposited her husband's Kennedy Center donation; Grenell calls it 'an absurd claim'
Former Trump lawyer Alina Habba told President Donald Trump on October 9, 2026 that Ric Grenell, the former head of the Kennedy Center, failed to deposit a multimillion-dollar donation from her husband, Turkish businessman Turhan Mildon, according to Axios. Trump ordered a White House counsel review. Grenell denies asking for money to be redirected or receiving any payment, and denies sending a 2025 text message, reported by Axios, that offered Mildon access to Trump.
Source and context
Original post
About this source
Ric Grenell's reply on X to the Axios post about Alina Habba's accusation that he failed to deposit a Kennedy Center donation.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Original post
About this source
Axios post on X summarizing its exclusive report that Alina Habba told President Trump in the Oval Office that Ric Grenell failed to deposit a multimillion-dollar Kennedy Center donation made by her husband.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
Raw Story summary of Axios's October 14 report on Habba's accusation, Grenell's denial, Kennedy Center records and the White House counsel review.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
Daily Beast report on the text message Axios says Grenell sent Mildon, with Grenell's earlier denials to The New York Times and the Daily Beast.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Grenell posted the reply to an Axios post reporting that Alina Habba told Trump in the Oval Office that Grenell failed to deposit a multimillion-dollar donation her husband made to the Kennedy Center.
After the quotation
Raw Story, citing Axios, reports that Habba and Mildon declined to comment through a spokesperson, and that a White House official said the counsel's office had asked for documents and proof and had received none so far.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case concerns the accusation, brought to Trump by Alina Habba, that Grenell failed to deposit a Kennedy Center donation from her husband, Turhan Mildon. Grenell says he never asked for money to be redirected and never received any payment, which denies the accusation.
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- People and groups discussed
- Alina Habba
More from this case
Read the full caseJosh Marshall calls Grenell's spelling defense 'a pretty thin argument'
“It’s true that I certainly wouldn’t expect an American to use that spelling. But that seems like a pretty thin argument for Grenell to rest his whole case on.”Read statement
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- Ric Grenell calls the missing-donation accusation 'an absurd claim'
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The Dispute Index. "Ric Grenell calls the missing-donation accusation 'an absurd claim'". First published: 2026-10-30. Last updated: 2026-10-30. https://disputeindex.com/events/7258-replying-to-axios-ric-grenell-calls-the-accusation