White House counsel probes allegations of missing Kennedy Center funds

President Donald Trump has directed his White House counsel to examine allegations that a multimillion-dollar donation to the Kennedy Center was not deposited. The claims were raised by former Trump attorney Alina Habba, who told the president that former Kennedy Center leader Ric Grenell failed to deposit a contribution made by her husband, Turhan Mildon. Grenell has denied the accusations, calling them "absurd" and a "lie."

Allegations and Denials

According to four senior administration officials and three insiders briefed on the controversy, Habba presented the allegations to Trump in the Oval Office on Friday, Oct. 9. She stated that Grenell, a former top adviser, did not deposit a donation from her billionaire husband, Turhan Mildon, made approximately a year ago. Habba and Mildon declined to comment through a spokesperson.

Grenell, who served as the Kennedy Center’s executive director until March, firmly rejected the claims. "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 said. He added, "Make him give proof to what he is saying, not make these absurd allegations."

Discrepancies in Financial Records

The reported amount of the alleged donation has varied as the allegations developed. White House sources indicated that Habba initially described the contribution as $17 million, then revised it to $5.6 million after consulting with her husband. Other sources placed the value at nearly $6 million. "This has been hard to track because numbers have changed," a White House official said.

However, Kennedy Center records do not reflect a contribution of that magnitude. According to officials, the center’s records show that Mildon owed a pledged donation of $270,000. There is no record of a contribution close to $5.6 million. Lisa Dale, who handled the center’s finances at the time, stated her records showed only the $270,000 pledge. "There was nothing about $6 million," she told Axios. "I would have heard about that." Mildon paid the $270,000 on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Background of the Dispute

The dispute arises from a business relationship between Grenell and Mildon that began in early 2025. Sources said Habba and Mildon discovered the alleged donation problem after their business relationship with Grenell deteriorated. Habba’s lawyers plan to provide the White House with documents to support the claim that Grenell solicited a contribution meant for the center to go to a private company. A White House official confirmed that counsel had requested documents and proof, but none had been provided so far.

The conflict occurs amid broader tensions within the administration. Grenell had previously lost an internal power struggle with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which culminated in the U.S. seizing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3. Additionally, the feud follows the recent dismissal of U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Why it matters

The investigation highlights significant internal discord among former and current Trump administration officials. While one senior official cautioned that "these are only allegations. We don’t know if they’re true. This could be a misunderstanding," another noted the potential severity of the issue: "But if there is missing money, this is a big, big problem." The outcome of the White House counsel’s review could have implications for the Kennedy Center’s financial integrity and the reputations of the individuals involved.

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Sources

• axios.com: "MAGA blood feud": White House probes claims of missing Kennedy Center money
• mezha.net: Exclusive: White House reviews claims of missing Kennedy Center donation amid Trump-world feud | Межа
• news.meaww.com: White House probes Alina Habba’s claim of missing $5.6M Kennedy Center donation under Ric Grenell
• knewz.com: White House probes alleged Kennedy Center donation

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.